Cormorants

[West Basin]

The Lake Erie Western Basin Cormorant population was culled back 15 or so years, I don't remember the year. If I recall correctly the Feds brought in sharpshooters (shooters) and they eliminated thousands of them, a lot around Wests Sister Island and a few other places. There was a vary noticeable decrease the following spring and summer. The year before the Lake was practically polluted with them. Yes, all the damage to uninhabited islands out away from the human activities. And they do eat a lot of fish. But they were almost scarce the next year. I figured it would only be a matter of time before they became a population nuisance again. I started noticing larger flocks / numbers of them a few years ago. Perhaps it will soon be time for another cull. I always thought one way to cull them when necessary would be to let the fall waterfowl hunters shoot a few. Might give a slow day some action and help keep the population in check. But that has it's own issues.

[Peleewalleyeguy]

About five or so years ago they killed about 10,000 of them using .22 short sub sonic rounds. I heard this from a guy who was involved with the plan. It was allowed by some agency of the government. They picked them up and disposed of the birds in some landfill. I do not know what happened after that but they are really bad animals. They are all around Florida and come up to a fishing boat waiting to eat any small fish you release. Last year there were two of them hanging around our chartered boat and they must have eaten at least 10 smaller sea trout in an hour.