DNR Plans Cormorant Control
Once on the brink of extinction, the double-crested cormorant population is getting out of control around Green Bay and Lake Michigan, according to DNR biologists.
The Department of Natural Resources is set to pitch its cormorant management plan to the public.
DNR video taken in May, 2006, shows thousands of Cormorants nesting on a small island in the Bay of Green Bay.
"We feel that there's too many cormorants in the state of Wisconsin, and we'd like to take those numbers back to a time when we weren't experiencing the problems that we anticipate we're having with cormorants right now," DNR fish biologist Paul Peeters said.
Peeters says the problem is two-fold: The birds are destroying habitat on islands used by other birds, and there's concern fish populations are starting to be impacted since cormorants live almost exclusively on fish.
"Now that the perch population is bouncing back and bouncing back really strong, and there are a lot of perch out there, the cormorants are eating a lot of perch."
After public input at three meetings over the next few weeks, the DNR hopes to take action next spring.
It wants to reduce the nesting pairs in Green Bay and around Door County from the current 12,000 nests down to 6,000. The method of population control would be oiling eggs in nests.
WBAY-TV Green Bay-Fox Cities-Northeast Wisconsin News: DNR Plans Cormorant Control
All three meetings start at 7 P.M.:
October 30, Sturgeon Bay: Crossroads at Big Creek, 2041 Michigan Street. (920) 746-5895
November 1, Madison: Lussier Heritage Center, 3101 Lake Farm Road. (608) 224-3604.
November 5, Green Bay: U.W.-Extension Service Center, 1150 Bellevue Street.
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