Trumpeter swans were hunted for their meat and feathers during the 19th century and by 1900, it was widely believed that the species had become extinct. Fortunately, several small isolated populations were found in remote areas of Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Alaska and Canada. With the help of government protection established in 1935 and several restoration programs in various states, the population has increased to a level where the swans are now no longer listed as threatened or endangered. However in some parts of the country, the trumpeter swan is more rare than the bald eagle, and there still are several threats to the continued existence of this species. Shooting remains a problem because hunters mistake trumpeter swans for snow geese. Lead poisoning from the ingestion of spent shots and fishing sinkers is another problem. Trumpeter swans are highly sensitive to lead poisoning and just 1 to 2 lead pellets can sicken or kill them. People who choose to hunt should use non-toxic ammunition such as steel shots, bismuth shots, tin shots, tungsten-matrix, tungsten-iron and tungsten-polymer shots. Although more expensive than lead shots, this is a small price to pay for preserving non-target species such as the trumpeter swan.

Predation by mammals and other avian species is not a significant factor affecting swan populations. Wetlands must be managed to ensure stable water levels that can offer potential breeding habitats. The quantity and quality of large shallow wetland habitats are adversely affected by the concentration of lead shots and lead sinkers, by draining and filling, and by the invasion of non-native waterfowls and fishes. Public awareness, understanding and involvement is crucial to the long term preservation of trumpeter swans and other species of wildlife that could be gone forever if humankind chooses to be blind to the uniqueness of each individual species.

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