[headstamp]

(On a recent trip out to Little Pelican Island with reporters, Steve Mortensen, a fish and wildlife biologist for the Leech Lake band, said he regrets the bird's fate.)

"It's a human thing. We are dealing with who is going to get the walleye," he said with a shrug. "That's the bottom line."

This from a "Professional" wildlife biologist. Unbelievable. Just shrug and succumb to the emotional side of the argument instead of speaking from knowledge on game management. Why not state the birds are not going to be wiped out but brought down to more manageable numbers. When the over population of birds virtually wipe out the walleyes in the lake they will simply move on to another lake.

This is right up there with the geese overpopulation problems on most lakes and ponds in my area. The lakes and shorelines become a total cesspool from the geese but then there is the wailing and gnashing of teeth when the DEC tries to cull the flocks to get the bird numbers to a more manageable level.

The tug of war between wildlife management science and emotion continues......

Regards

[Old North State]

You are quite right about the geese. In fact, here in NC a cottage industry has arisen for "pond control" which means getting rid of the geese. The method de jure is to use border collies to scare then off. Where to they go? That's someone else's problem, but it stops the whining over killing them.

[Pharmboy]

Excellent comment. You know, of course, that you make much too much sense to have any impact.