La Quinta residents fighting PGA West to ‘Save the Swan’

Residents and wildlife advocates are pleading with management and the HOA at a La Quinta community to save a swan they say has called the area home for almost a decade.

The swan being called the star of PGA West – and residents are desperately trying to protect him.

"The swan was here for 9 years; he has lived in this lake," PGA West resident Cherry Whitley said. "This is his home."

"He's not only a friend, he is really protector of our properties here," resident Bonnie Niemi said. "We're pretty invested in him."

The association management calls the swan "aggressive" and is now working to get rid of him – a process experts said more than likely ends with the swan being killed.

"When you hire a wildlife removal company, they, by law, are obligated to kill the wildlife because they do not have a license for relocation," said Bettina Rosmarino, co-founder of the Palm Springs Wildlife Advocates.

Rosmarino said any potential aggression is natural for swans this time of year, because it's their breeding season.

"He has just gone through a hormonal stage during the breeding season, and that might make him a little bit more territorial," Rosmarino said. "When people approach him, then he's just trying to protect his area."

At a closed door, residents-only meeting Friday, PGA West officials declined News Channel 3's request to interview.

Residents hope their pleas will be heard – they say it's about peacefully co-existing, and a lesson that will reverberate for generations.

"The majority of the neighbors here have learned to live in harmony with the wildlife that's in the desert," said resident Karen Silveira. "We feel that that should be our legacy. We feel that's something that we want to teach our children and our grandchildren."

Residents said the meeting Friday ended without a decision from officials – who entered closed session to discuss the matter further.

Stay with News Channel 3 for the latest.