Amid recent speculation, university officials say trumpeter swans Sir Lancelot and Elaine will remain in Lake LaVerne, at least for the time being.

Warren Madden, vice president of business and finance, said a final decision on whether to relocate the swans has not yet been made.

“[We are going to] get through next spring and sit down and see where it goes from there,” Madden said.

Cathy Brown, campus planner for Facilities Planning and Management, said there are no pre-established guidelines.

“The discussion last summer was to give the swans a chance to nest in the spring of 1999 and to re-evaluate the situation in May,” she said.

Iowa Swan Restoration Coordinator Ron Andrews said he hopes the birds will be able to remain in their current home.

“I think they are a part of [ISU] history,” Andrews said.

He said the swans will remain at Lake LaVerne until their next nesting season, which will take place next spring.

Madden said trumpeter swans historically are more territorial and tend to wander more than the mute swans that have occupied Lake LaVerne in the past.

Gaylon Crim, agronomy research associate and ISU Trumpeter Swan Restoration Committee member, said many on campus do not like the fences surrounding the swans’ habitat. She also said the swans are not accustomed to their current environment.

“People seem to have a problem seeing these swans fenced in,” she said. “And they don’t seem compatible [with their environment] and with what ISU wants with the lake.”

Madden said the swans have been fenced in because they tend to wander onto Lincoln Way and surrounding areas and have not always been friendly toward people, citing a couple of close calls with children and other passers-by.

He said the Department of Natural Resources hopes the swans will improve their temperament after breeding.

“The Department of Natural Resources wants the swans in Iowa, and the university is supportive,” Madden said.

He questioned whether the environment is appropriate for them, however.

“At some point, we have to come to grips if trumpeter swans are the right ones,” he said.

Andrews said what happens this spring will be the best indicator of whether the university will keep the swans.

“We have to be patient,” Andrews said. “This coming year will be the best opportunity to evaluate [the situation].”

Madden said the committee will look at all factors when making a decision next spring.

“We have to have a practical set of parameters when considering all of these problems,” Madden said.