Cormorants are native birds…

Cormorants are native birds. They have as much right to be here as we do. They have been vilified and persecuted enough through the years that it is a wonder they are still around. They do not deplete fish stock. Humans do that with unsustainable practices and environmental degradation. We need to co-exist with our natural world. Will hunters only be allowed to use non-lead shot? Dead birds in the water and washing up on shore (not all birds will be collected) to be scavenged by the rest of the food chain will surely cause an increase in lead poisoning which already is all too common. This proposed cull under the guise of regulated hunting is not a science based program. It has been proposed to humour a few groups of individuals who cannot or will not co-exist with the natural world. I also worry that loons will be mistaken for cormorants as many people have difficulty telling the two species apart. Who will police all this activity? I do not support such an archaic solution to human/wildlife conflict. Thank you for considering my comments.