Growing up in Wisconsin it was always a big deal to go to the MacKenzie environmental center in Poynette, WI. It was normally a two night field trip in 4th or 5th grade. One of the big treats of going to MacKenzie was getting to go on a field trip within a field trip to the International Crane Foundation in Baraboo, WI. As a young child I was fascinated with the long legged, long necked birds that were as tall as I was. At that time the only place one could see Sandhill Cranes and other crane species was at ICF in Baraboo.
Fast forward to today—the Sandhill Cranes that I could only see in captivity as a child now hang out in the pond in the park just a half block from my house. They are beautiful and graceful birds. They do cause some crop damage; however, that can easily be avoided.
[...] the United States Environmental Protection Agency granted temporary approval for the use of the non-lethal crane repellant Avipel®, formerly known as Avitec™, and applications for long-term use of Avipel® are being pursued for future planting seasons. Avipel® has an active ingredient of 9,10 Anthraquinone (AQ), a naturally occurring substance used by plants to deter bird foraging on seeds and fruits, and is marketed in liquid and powder forms. Cranes detect AQ at very low levels and avoid it.
Of course the Republican led Wisconsin legislature with its laser focus on jobs has proposed another way to eliminate the scourge known as the Sandhill Crane.
Under the bill, farmers would be allowed to seek state compensation for sandhill crop damage. Hunters with a small-game license who take a sandhill hunting course could legally kill the bird. The DNR would be allowed to limit the harvest and the number of hunters, however.
Wait a minute...I thought Wisconsin was broke. How is paying farmers for crop damage (that they can prevent) going to create jobs?
Of course the lieutenant governor's husband, State Rep. Joel Kleefisch, an Oconomowoc Republican and avid duck hunter who has a laser focus on creating jobs in Wisconsin had this to say,
"Many call (sandhill cranes) the rib-eye of the sky. When I was a kid, you never saw a sandhill crane. Now you never go water-fowl hunting without seeing them. They're beautiful animals that deserve to be respected. At the same time we have a strong heritage of fishing and hunting in Wisconsin and it's time we looked at a potential season."
The rib-eye of the sky? Did he really just say that? Now don't get me wrong. I have no problem with hunting. It just isn't for me and in this case a hunting season will do nothing to eliminate crop damage, unless you decimate the species back to what it was when I was growing up.
ICFs ecology director, Jeb Barzen, said hunting won't solve crop damage problems.
"You're telling farmers you're giving them a solution when you're not," Barzen said.
I just don't understand how, with the pressing problems Wisconsin has, a new hunting season is even on the agenda. Seriously, how many jobs does Wisconsin have to lose before the Republican legislature takes it laser focus on jobs and, well, I don't know, actually focuses on jobs.