An email reply from Dave Westerberg, with a little editing, (for some reason, he is not able to log onto the site to reply directly.)

Hi Chris,
the problem is not here in Michigan, its in Washington at the USDA! They don't have the money budgeted for proper reduction and control of these birds. Its the same story as with the wolves! The "bird lovers" and "tree hugger" who are in power in the bureaucracy make the decisions about what is important enough to fund - Cormorant Control is not funded at the level we need to make a difference and that's the way they want it!

The committee here in Michigan had to make a decision what areas to manage with their limited funds - The Beaver Islands has 60,000 birds, we have 40,000, so they wanted to tackle the Beaver Islands first and get to us next year with a spring lethal harassment program. The Fish & Wildlife Service will still be doing egg oiling and shooting of adult birds in our area this year!

Instead of what the writer wanted to do in his post - if everyone would write to our Congressmen and Senators and get on their ass, they would get on the USDA's ass! Nothing gets things moving faster then the threat of cutting the whole departments budget!!!

Dave