Nebraska Game and Parks is investigating the killing of three trumpeter swans in Sioux County sometime last week near Agate Fossil Beds National Monument.
Conservation officer Josh Widhelm says the swans were all shot to death with the carcasses found Friday near the junction of HWY 29 and River Road, the entrance to Agate Fossil Beds
Widhelm says anyone with information that leads to prosecution may be eligible for a reward, and they can give their information anonymously by calling the Wildlife Crimestoppers hotline at 800-742-7627.
Widhelm also encourages anyone with information on any hunting or poaching violations to report them by going online at OutdoorNebraska.gov/ conservation/wildlife-management/wildlife-crime-stoppers.
. The trumpeter swan is North America’s largest species of waterfowl with an 8-foot wingspan. It’s also distinctive – a white bird with a black bill, black legs and black feet,
Trumpeters were nearly driven to extinction in the early 20th century, but conservation efforts have been successful and the species is now listed on the second tier of Nebraska’s at-risk wildlife.
A nongame species in Nebraska, the trumpeter swan is again a fairly common migrant in areas of the state in spring and fall. It also breeds regularly in Nebraska, primarily in the Sandhills.