U.S. /Canada Border: Swan Deaths, 2004

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   What Is the Truth About Swan Deaths on the 

U.S./Canada Border?

by Kevin Sinclair - April 2004

"Kevin Sinclair lives with his wife Wrenetta and sons Joel and Michael on a 

farm in Abbotsford, British Columbia. The farm, which includes the entire 

Canadian portion of Judson Lake, has been in their family since 1937.

Have you ever wondered what�s really going on with all the mysterious 

trumpeter swan mortalities in our area that continue unabated year after 

year? 

Did you know that more than 1,100 of these magnificent creatures have 

suffered and died from acute lead poisoning over the past five years? How 

is it that despite countless taxpayer dollars being spent on monitoring 

studies that the end result always seems to come out the same?

The truth is, the general public has not been told the 

whole story. In fact, where the swans are finding the lead shot 

responsible for their terrible deaths is not a mystery at all.

Joint Monitoring Study

The following quotes are taken from a joint monitoring study conducted 

by the WDFW and CWS from 2001�2003. 

The study entitled �Lead Poisoning of Trumpeter and Tundra Swans by 

Ingestion of Lead Shot in Whatcom County, Washington, USA and Sumas 

Prairie, British Columbia, Canada� had this to say: �Locating the sources 

of lead was complicated because most (89 percent) poisoned swans were 

retrieved from night roost sites away from foraging areas. Shot was 

detected in only one of the 12 forage fields examined. A total of two shot 

were found.�

Please think about this for a moment. After two years of 

monitoring studies, which involved radio collaring swans and following 

them all over the countryside and collecting core samples from the fields 

they were foraging in, our two governments combined found two lead 

pellets. Now, if you�re not scratching your head yet, check out this quote: 

�Preliminary results suggest the sources of lead shot responsible for the 

swan mortalities in the Whatcom County and Sumas Prairie are likely 

local. The main sources of lead shot may be either in Whatcom County or 

the Sumas Prairie, possibly near the border.�

So let�s do the math. We have an irrefutable government study (1998) 

stating that Judson Lake is horrifically contaminated. Add to that a 

conclusive two-year monitoring study (2001�2003) stating that �the 

sources of lead shot responsible for the swan mortalities are likely local 

and possibly near the border.�

And let�s add one more quote for good measure. This one comes from 

the executive director of the U.S. based Trumpeter Swan Society: �I had 

heard of Judson Lake, but had not realized the significance of this 

particular site, in relationship to all the places where dead swans are 

being found (November 25, 2003).�

For more on this story please go to http://www.savetheswans.com. 

http://

www.whatcomwatch.org/php/WW_open.php?id=408

Edited by Rick

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Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: U.S. /Canada Border: Swan Deaths, 2004 Posted: February 08 2006 at 7:56pm
	What Is the Truth About Swan Deaths on the U.S./Canada Border? by Kevin Sinclair - April 2004 "Kevin Sinclair lives with his wife Wrenetta and sons Joel and Michael on a farm in Abbotsford, British Columbia. The farm, which includes the entire Canadian portion of Judson Lake, has been in their family since 1937. Have you ever wondered what�s really going on with all the mysterious trumpeter swan mortalities in our area that continue unabated year after year? Did you know that more than 1,100 of these magnificent creatures have suffered and died from acute lead poisoning over the past five years? How is it that despite countless taxpayer dollars being spent on monitoring studies that the end result always seems to come out the same? The truth is, the general public has not been told the whole story. In fact, where the swans are finding the lead shot responsible for their terrible deaths is not a mystery at all. Joint Monitoring Study The following quotes are taken from a joint monitoring study conducted by the WDFW and CWS from 2001�2003. The study entitled �Lead Poisoning of Trumpeter and Tundra Swans by Ingestion of Lead Shot in Whatcom County, Washington, USA and Sumas Prairie, British Columbia, Canada� had this to say: �Locating the sources of lead was complicated because most (89 percent) poisoned swans were retrieved from night roost sites away from foraging areas. Shot was detected in only one of the 12 forage fields examined. A total of two shot were found.� Please think about this for a moment. After two years of monitoring studies, which involved radio collaring swans and following them all over the countryside and collecting core samples from the fields they were foraging in, our two governments combined found two lead pellets. Now, if you�re not scratching your head yet, check out this quote: �Preliminary results suggest the sources of lead shot responsible for the swan mortalities in the Whatcom County and Sumas Prairie are likely local. The main sources of lead shot may be either in Whatcom County or the Sumas Prairie, possibly near the border.� So let�s do the math. We have an irrefutable government study (1998) stating that Judson Lake is horrifically contaminated. Add to that a conclusive two-year monitoring study (2001�2003) stating that �the sources of lead shot responsible for the swan mortalities are likely local and possibly near the border.� And let�s add one more quote for good measure. This one comes from the executive director of the U.S. based Trumpeter Swan Society: �I had heard of Judson Lake, but had not realized the significance of this particular site, in relationship to all the places where dead swans are being found (November 25, 2003).� For more on this story please go to http://www.savetheswans.com. http:// www.whatcomwatch.org/php/WW_open.php?id=408 Edited by Rick

Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February 08 2006 at 8:07pm
	this ran on Gobal TV here in Canada a few weeks back happens every year.

Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February 08 2006 at 8:24pm
	" this ran on Gobal TV here in Canada a few weeks back happens every year." ----------- "Shot was detected in only one of the 12 forage fields examined. A total of two shot were found.� I wonder how they died of lead poisoning? Thanks for mentioning the show. It should generate more information or concern in light of what has been happening. Edited by Rick