To whom it may concern; I…

To whom it may concern;

I understand the reasons for considering a hunting season for Double-crested Cormorants. I take issue with the Ministry’s outlandish ideas for population control.

I feel that a bag limit of 50 cormorants per person per day is excessive. Such a limit is excessive for any species and encourages indiscriminate killing just for the sake of killing. This attitude is unacceptable and contrary to the premise that hunting is a controlled and careful practice that is respectful of natural resources.

The season proposed by the Ministry is also inconsiderate of breeding seasons and gestation periods. Based on the current proposal there is no attention given to nesting birds and their babies. If the season continues as suggested countless chicks will be left without one or both parents and they will starve to death or die of exposure. This is inhumane and flies in the face of responsible resource management. A modified season, such as 1 March to 31 May, and 15 September to 31 December would be a more socially acceptable option.

With the current suggested practice of hunting without a requirement to collect carcasses there is the potential for excessive water and land contamination. If hunters kill their bag limit and birds are left to rot where they fall then a disservice is being done to the very ecosystems this proposed hunt is meant to protect. Rotting carcasses will cause aquatic contamination resulting in a decline in suitable fish habitat, water quality for wildlife and for humans alike, and will be an eyesore and an overall assault on the senses for those attempting to enjoy the outdoors. Carcasses left on islands or land to spoil will further damage the areas where cormorants, and other species of birds such as Bald Eagles, Turkey Vultures, Ospreys, various gulls and terns, and ducks and geese, nest and live. Furthermore, failing to retrieve or collect hunted birds could conceivably leave an inordinate number of wounded birds to suffer an agonizing and slow death at the hands of the elements. Again, this is incongruent with hunting and resource management best practices. Collecting hunted birds would also increase the accountability of hunters to ensure bag limits are being maintained, that birds are actually dead, and assist in ensuring that carcasses do not contaminate the environment. Carcasses could be required to be disposed of properly in a landfill or provided to other hunters for bait, in the case of bears, coyotes, and wolves. Additionally, having limits, seasons, and hunter responsibilities as detailed could put the Ministry, the Province, and hunters alike, in the crosshairs of animal rights activist groups such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). This could have results ranging from benign to dangerous.

I believe additional management efforts are required to adequately determine the population of cormorants in Ontario. A hunt as proposed, appears to be a knee-jerk reaction to the complaints of underinformed resource users. Prior to fishing becoming a mainstream pastime cormorants existed in the environment. During the years of the indescriminate use of DDT, cormorants and countless other species of birds suffered greatly through population decline. This is finally being rectified however, now that the birds are thriving it’s a problem for those engaged in fishing. Contrary to popular belief, cormorants do not only feed on Walleye or other sought after sport fish. They have been known to feed on over 250 species of fish including those that are deemed to not be of importance to the ecosystem or are invasive, such as the Round Goby, Wels Catfish, Zander, and Rudd.
I expect the Ministry to make an informed decision regarding changes to resource management practices. This does not include excessive bag limits, poorly-defined seasons resulting in orphaned and starving chicks, or birds left for dead since there is no onus to be responsible when engaged in hunting this species. Prior to the addition of a new species to the list of those that may be hunted further analysis of populations, habitats likely to be adversely affected, and humane and accountable harvesting practices should be studied and considered.

In closing, every species has a niche in our environment. The sudden and aggressive harvest of a single species could result in extirpation and, in the extreme, a possibility of a repeat to the sad story of the Passenger Pigeon, a species that was once said to darken the skies with its great flocks. Please consider alternatives and use some restraint in this planning process as it benefits everyone who takes the time to enjoy Ontario’s great outdoors.