Federal proposal: kill salmon-eating cormorants

Federal proposal: kill salmon-eating cormorants

Posted: Jun 12, 2014 4:17 PM PDT


Updated: Jun 12, 2014 6:35 PM PDT



PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Federal officials are proposing to kill half the large colony of cormorants in the Columbia River estuary because they consume too many young salmon and steelhead.

The proposal is the preferred action in a draft management plan released Thursday by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The colony of cormorants on East Sand Island near the mouth of the Columbia consumes about 11 million juvenile salmon per year. The fish are listed as endangered.

Officials say despite use of non-lethal methods and reductions in nesting habitat, the cormorant population has continued to thrive. There are now about 15,000 breeding pairs.

Federal officials are proposing to reduce the colony to 5,600 breeding pairs by killing half of them, trying to scare off the others and taking their eggs.


http://www.khq.com/story/25765735/federal-proposal-kill-salmon-eating-cormorants

How about the State killing the trout eating cormorants. Why should our hatcheries be like McDonald's for cormorants.

Where to I sign up for my cormorant - sea lion combo tag?

Raccoon relocation would get the job done.

Federal officials are proposing to reduce the colony to 5,600 breeding pairs by killing half of them, trying to scare off the others and taking their eggs

Save money kill all but a pair, then you would not have to repeat killing so often.

Why only kill half don't they think there will be just as many the next year with less competition for nesting and forage

Nate + hatchet. PROFIT!

Kill em all! Plenty elswhere to repopulate over time. Should manage all rivers and lakes with lethal Cormorant removal, especially Puget Sound rivers!

There's really no question that a big part of the Puget Sound steelhead and salmon survival problem is cormorant predation.
I work and live near the Sound and the amount of those fat, black vultures is astounding.
We should be able to take them during fall waterfowl seasons.
Cormorant chimichangas anyone???

On the lower Puyallup river they hang out on the powerlines that extend across the river. They have a perfect spot to pounce on the smolt as they head out to Puget sound. Bad idea to provide these lines for them to sit and wait. I agree,take them out!