Scottish pilot scheme to cull 5,500 geese
Thousands of native Scottish geese are to be shot as part of a pilot project to reduce damage from the birds to arable and grass crops.
More than 5,000 geese will be shot on Orkney in a bid to reduce the native greylag geese population ahead of the mass arrival of migratory birds from Iceland and Greenland later this month.
The technique is being trialled in Scotland for the first time under the management of Scottish Natural Heritage and guided by the National Goose Management Review Group (NGMRG).
The number of geese culled will be recorded and population levels monitored each summer.
Geese management schemes are already up and running on Islay, where farmers are compensated for the damage the birds cause.
Plans are also being developed for additional pilots on Coll and Tiree, Islay and the Uists.
All have growing populations of greylag geese, which are causing significant damage to arable or grass crops.
In all these areas culling will be carried out or co-ordinated by experienced local shooters.
In areas where disturbance to migratory geese, including Icelandic greylags, may be an issue, culling will be carried out before they arrive.
Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) said its long-term goal was to have a goose population which was sustainable and would generate income for local people.
Gail Churchill, SNH’s Orkney operations manager, said: “We are responding to the concerns of local farmers and land managers and we are also committed to ensuring that management is controlled so the populations of geese are managed sustainably.
“The initial target is for 5,500 to be taken as part of this pilot this year though in subsequent years this number will reduce as the overall population decreases.
“The number taken in the pilot is very small in comparison with the large number of migratory greylag and pink-footed geese taken each year in Orkney. The work will be undertaken by experienced shooters following established best practice methods, and overseen by staff within Scottish Agricultural College.”
Scottish environment minister Paul Wheelhouse said: “The Scottish government recognises the major role that farmers have played in the success of goose conservation projects and the significant increase in goose numbers over the past 10 years.
“However, it is clear that increasing populations of resident geese in particular areas of Scotland pose new challenges for farmers and, given that other methods have only proved partially successful, further action is now deemed essential to bring resident geese numbers down to a sustainable level.”
Philip Case on G+