Scaup numbers on the recovery

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) has released its spring survey of mid-continent breeding ducks and the numbers look promising for all species, however you'll notice that there are still a few problems that need to be addressed.

The biggest problem of these is the declining Scaup populations. For us at Long Point Waterfowl, Scaup are particularly near and dear to our hearts: we do a lot of research to try and figure out why the species is declining so rapidly.

Our research at LPW is focusing on the contaminant hypothesis, which suggests Scaup are acquiring levels of trace elements and/or other contaminants that subsequently impact survival or reproduction. We are hopeful that the upward trend in Scaup populations will continue but are still dedicated to our research to ensure that it's not a temporary lull and will continue to recover.

Why Hunt?

California Waterfowl has created an amazing video about the place of hunting within a healthy, balanced ecosystem. The video goes on to explain how hunters are involved in conservation and why hunting and conservation naturally go hand-in-hand. Check it out!

Hunting and conservation don't mix, right?

It's commonly held that hunting and conservation don't mix. It's counter-intuitive to think that the action of stalking and killing prey can actually help, however in certain cases, it can help and actually aid populations to be healthier.

Take the case of White-tailed deer in Southwestern Ontario. These animals are so common that local conservation authorities offer fact sheets on how to deter the deer from backyards. In fact, deer are so plentiful around this area that it's possible to walk through a forest and see no underbrush and bark missing off trees where the deer were forced to eat it.

In this case, where humans are responsible for eliminating nearly all predators and competitors of the White-tailed deer, opening a hunt season will reduce the population to sizes where the surrounding area can support the population without damage being caused to forested areas and without deer starving to death.

Now take this idea and apply it to Canada Goose populations in Southern Ontario, which are equally as plentiful and equally damaging to their environment. What would you do?

Deer image courtesy of smanstrom. Canada Goose image courtesy of njchow82.