Cormorants and more cormorants rant

[Talking moose]

Originally Posted by RisingRainbows

Yes, those are all factors, and predation from other native animals is a factor. It is a natural one, however, and one that has always been around and, hopefully, always will. We should try and reduce our footprint on our natural world, not add to it by attempting to reduce the numbers of native animals because we don't "like" them as much as we like their prey.

So these birds are in fact native to Alberta?

[bigbfidaddy]

Need some more seagulls. They luv snatching up Cormorant chicks and eggs too. Go gulls go!!! I've seen one gull eat five chicks in one sitting. They are becoming a problem out east around lake Ontario also. Biologists are saying there the population has quadrupled in the last five years. There was an interview on a fishing Canada show with that little hairy dude Pete I think. Was quite informative although one sided.

[RisingRainbows]

Originally Posted by Talking moose

So these birds are in fact native to Alberta?

Yes, not introduced like many of the trout we don't want them to eat and here before us.

[Talking moose]

Originally Posted by RisingRainbows

Yes, not introduced like many of the trout we don't want them to eat and here before us.

They could eat all the trout from Alberta for all I care, just leave the Bullies and atha strain rainbows....

[pipco]

Originally Posted by RisingRainbows

Yes, those are all factors, and predation from other native animals is a factor. It is a natural one, however, and one that has always been around and, hopefully, always will. We should try and reduce our footprint on our natural world, not add to it by attempting to reduce the numbers of native animals because we don't "like" them as much as we like their prey.

I think you may be missing the point of original post.

It is not particularly " natural" to stock waters where fish don't exist nor is it natural to stock water bodies that have been hit with drought and other detrimental factors that impact a fishery.
It is human intervention on a natural environment. Which means we must manage it to the best of our ability or see it collapse.

This means culling species that become overpopulated, negatively impacting a fishery that we pay for with our tax dollars in hopes that the powers that be will manage it with our best interests in mind as well as the environment. A difficult juggling act to be sure.

[wwbirds]

cormorants and pelicans were rare in this area only 5 or 6 years ago.
Never heard of prussian carp in waters around here until 3 years ago.
Perhaps the pelicans and cormorants are looking after the course fish which I believe would be much easier to catch than trout. No trout in these sloughs but sure are a lot of cormorants and pelican lately. Just watched 30 pelicans come from weed lake heading to Taylor marsh 10 minutes ago when walking back from the ponds from dog training.

[huntsfurfish]

Originally Posted by RisingRainbows

Yes, those are all factors, and predation from other native animals is a factor. It is a natural one, however, and one that has always been around and, hopefully, always will. We should try and reduce our footprint on our natural world, not add to it by attempting to reduce the numbers of native animals because we don't "like" them as much as we like their prey.

Unless you intend to have no interference from man what so ever, man will have a need to control.

Dont think anyone suggested wiping them out. But, nothing wrong with managing their numbers either.

[huntsfurfish]

Originally Posted by pipco

I think you may be missing the point of original post.

It is not particularly " natural" to stock waters where fish don't exist nor is it natural to stock water bodies that have been hit with drought and other detrimental factors that impact a fishery.
It is human intervention on a natural environment. Which means we must manage it to the best of our ability or see it collapse.

This means culling species that become overpopulated, negatively impacting a fishery that we pay for with our tax dollars in hopes that the powers that be will manage it with our best interests in mind as well as the environment. A difficult juggling act to be sure.

Agree! And well said.

[Northern Yaker]

Originally Posted by RisingRainbows

Yes, not introduced like many of the trout we don't want them to eat and here before us.

Exactly....