The USDA is currently reviewing comments from the public about whether it should authorize the killing of double-crested cormorants across Ohio, as well as destroying their nests. Apparently, the agency has gotten complaints about the birds, mostly from fisherman and fisheries where the birds have been getting their meals.
There are plenty of methods of deterring birds from hunting in fisheries through other human-wildlife conflict resolutions. One of the other causes for the initiative cited is that the birds are a danger to aircraft, even though there have been no reported cases of double-crested cormorants striking aircraft in decades.
Cormorants are not an especially common species in Ohio, since as fishing birds they’re mostly around bodies of water like Lake Erie, so I know many of us have not encountered them and may not feel especially attached to them. I’m still hoping that you will join me in posting a comment for the USDA to review these actions. Comments will be accepted until January 15, so please consider adding your voice against these actions.
Here is where you can leave a comment:
https://beta.regulations.gov/document/APHIS-2020-0115-0001/comment
I also recommend reading this article, which summarizes the USDA’s assessment well and talks a bit more about the issues with it:
https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/2020/12/31/usda-seeks-comments-may-destroy-ohios-double-crested-cormorants/3878839001/
Thank you all for your support! Feel free to forward these links on to any friends or family you might think would like to know about this as well.
OWU Sponsoring Organization/Office: Zoology Department.
Contact: Holly Keating at hrkeatin@owu.edu