There are three populations of Trumpeter Swans in North America: the Pacific Coast population, the Rocky Mountain population, and the Interior population. The Pacific Coast population breeds mainly in Alaska, but also in Yukon and northwestern British Columbia. The Rocky Mountain population breeds mainly in Alberta, northeastern British Columbia, western Saskatchewan, and southern Yukon and the Northwest Territories. The Interior population breeds primarily in Ontario, but small numbers have become established in eastern Saskatchewan and in Manitoba. The Trumpeter Swan was also confirmed as a breeder in Quebec for the first time during the second Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Quebec (2010-2014). The three populations have reached or exceeded their population objectives and are increasing. Hunting Trumpeter Swans is illegal in Canada in the United States. This species has been identified as a priority for conservation and/or stewardship in one or more Bird Conservation Region Strategies in Canada.
In the early 1900s, the Trumpeter Swan population was drastically reduced to only a few individuals due to increased hunting pressure and habitat loss. However, through significant conservation efforts to protect nesting habitat and with reintroduction and translocation programs, populations accross North America have increased in size and continue to do so. In Ontario, a swan re-introduction program, initiated in 1982 and ended in 2006, had achieved its goal of at least 500 free-living swans by 2005. Surveys conducted in 2015 as part of the continental five-year survey showed a total minimum population of 2,000 swans in Ontario. The main management concerns for the Pacific Population of Trumpeter Swans are lead poisoning, habitat alteration and crop depredation (Pacific Flyway Council 2006).
Environment and Climate Change Canada and partners have developed Bird Conservation Region Strategies in each of Canada’s Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs). In these strategies, selected species are identified as priorities for one or more of the following reasons:
Select any of the sub-regions below to view the BCR strategy for additional details.
