YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK – Eight trumpeter cygnets (young swans) were recently released in Yellowstone National Park’s Hayden Valley.
This is part of a critical repopulation effort; there were just four swans left in the park in 2010. It’s uncertain what caused the decline, but it’s likely that multiple factors are at play, including increased human visitation, predation and climate change impacting wetlands. But this work is worth it! In 2024, there were 25 adults counted and three breeding pairs.
The trumpeter swan is North America’s largest wild waterfowl, with a wingspan of up to 8 feet. The hydrothermal runoff in Yellowstone keeps rivers ice-free, allowing the birds to feed on aquatic plants and making the park a perfect winter refuge for the animals.
National Park News
