Trumpeter swan left dead in Idaho river in ‘senseless killing,’ wildlife officials say
A trumpeter swan was found dead floating in an Idaho river in a “senseless killing,” wildlife officials said.
The animal was spotted April 1 in the Bear River near Bennington, Idaho Fish and Game said in a Thursday, April 6, news release.
Wildlife officials said the bird was likely killed in the morning or mid-day, and multiple rifle casings were also found at the bridge.
“It is a senseless killing, and not the first animal to be shot, killed, and left to waste recently in this part of the region,” senior conservation officer Kolby White said in the release.
A bald eagle was killed in Bear Lake County last fall, and a mule deer was also found dead in March, White said.
“There have been several animals shot without reason and left to waste,” he said in the release.
Anyone with information can contact the Southeast Region Fish and Game office at 208-232-4703 or call the Citizens Against Poaching hotline at 1-800-632-5999.
Reports can be made anonymously. A reward may also be offered if information leads to an arrest, officials said.
“I am asking the public to report anything that seems out of place, even if it is not directly tied to one of these cases … it just might help,” White said in the release.
Trumpeter swans are the largest native birds in North America with an 8-foot average wingspan, according to U.S. Fish and Wildlife.
This story was originally published April 7, 2023 at 11:34 AM with the headline "Trumpeter swan left dead in Idaho river in ‘senseless killing,’ wildlife officials say."
