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February 11, 2020 Public Comment Processing FWS-HQ-2019-0103 U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service HQ MS: JAO/1N 5275 Leesburg Pike Falls Church, VA. 22041-3803 Dear sirs: We urge you to apply our tax dollars to cormorant management to reverse the devastating damage that is being done to Lake Ontario. Zebra mussels, gobies, and now cormorants are a problem for our local ecology. Snyder Island is being decimated by roosting cormorants. The soil is being effected by their excrement which is causing significant damage to native vegetation. Each spring fewer and fewer trees leaf out. The same goes for other areas around Irondequoit Bay. Cormorants are having a negative effect on the Lake Ontario fishery. The DEC stocks game fish only to have their efforts devoured by cormorants. The charter boat captains are losing customers and revenue due to these invasive birds being protected. Sincerely, This is the letter we have sent to the USFWS HQ. Use it as a guideline with your own specific examples and locations. This is the only way to get something going to manage these good for nothing birds.

We've switched to using the Scotty releases on riggers and have had good luck. We use the ones with 12in mono leads which lets you see if dragging small fish. It also makes setting your lines in the release easier. Very adjustable depending on target species

We were made aware of this several weeks ago at my I-Bay Fish & Game Club by a member who belongs to the Conservation Council. A letter was written with some specific examples of damage to Irondequoit Bay. We plan on getting as many of our 350 members as we can to forward the letter. I'll "try" and see if I can post the letter here as an example Kevin

Great idea J.D. Did you use a flaring tool on copper tubing?

I've got an extra Scotty antennae. Check your PM

I'd wear a white coat and a chefs hat while dragging the roadkill. That will keep the drive by folks guessing for sure.

Or no bail at all. Just an appearance ticket

That Jackson is a handsome brute.

Rolmops- I am not an expert, but you state a few misconceptions. Cormorants have been federally protected since 1972 under the Migratory Bird Act. Decisions on culling are made by the US Fish & Wildlife Service. Animal rights groups got a federal injunction on culling/shooting, oiling and whatever 4-5 yrs ago. This may be what you are referring to. Only in 2019 did the USFWS allow some limited shooting permits on aquaculture fish farms down south. Our DEC has their hands tied. As far as nest oiling, cormorants roost/nest in trees. Not practical. I agree it is a major problem not only with fish stocks, but these winged rats have destroyed several islands in Irondequoit Bay with others severely damaged. Gallo and Stoney saw this years ago.

Hunt em up Stella!!

Beautiful pic!!!

Trolling off Webster Park summer of 2017 we spotted a floating decomposing king. As we got next to it we saw something flashing 2 ft underneath it. Made a swing back and netted the stinky thing and found a new 2 Face Pro Troll attached to a stud fly in it's mouth. And it has been the hot combo since then.

Couldn't resist Sent from my SM-G950U using Lake Ontario United mobile app