5 Escaped Swans in 1962 Grew to Nearly 4,000 in Chesapeake Bay Region

Five mute swans fled from a Maryland estate in 1962, setting off an ecological chain reaction in the Chesapeake Bay area. Within four decades, their descendants multiplied to close to 4,000 birds across the region. The swans, considered an invasive species, consume large quantities of underwater vegetation critical to the bay's health. They have also been associated with pushing out native bird species from their habitats. Wildlife managers have raised growing concerns about the long-term damage these birds pose to the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem.