The proposed EBR 013-4124 is…

The proposed EBR 013-4124 is nothing less than draconian. Double-crested Cormorants are a native species that because of the elimination of DDT and the invasion of provincial waters by non-native species of invasive fish, have gone through a dramatic population increase in recent years. There is no evidence that this species is depleting stocks of native fish. To the contrary, a major study by Madura and Jones (2016) found that in Lake Michigan the diet of cormorants was composed nearly 90% of non-native species, especially alewife, round goby, and white perch. They concluded that active management of cormorants was not supported as it would not offer any protection to local fisheries.

Ethically, no animal should have an open season placed on it. This proposal would allow for myriad rotting corpses to pollute our land, potentially being a source for disease to spread through other species. Countless plastic shotgun shells and shot will pollute our waters. Additionally, young cormorants will be left starving in their colonies.

A little more than a century ago, Passenger Pigeons were the most abundant birds on this continent. Unregulated hunting resulted in their complete extinction. While EBR 013-4124 may not bring about the extinction of Double-crested Cormorants, it will certainly have negative effects on their population and the ecosystem in which they are part of. And it will likely open the door for unjustified open seasons on other native species.

I find this proposed bill unconscionable.