{"id":57836,"date":"2024-11-06T07:56:44","date_gmt":"2024-11-06T13:56:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/atomiccoffee.com\/WWA\/?p=57836"},"modified":"2024-11-19T12:40:31","modified_gmt":"2024-11-19T18:40:31","slug":"sandhill-crane-educational-briefing-at-state-capitol-attracts-more-than-30-legislative-offices","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/atomiccoffee.com\/WWA\/sandhill-crane-educational-briefing-at-state-capitol-attracts-more-than-30-legislative-offices\/","title":{"rendered":"Sandhill Crane Educational Briefing at State Capitol Attracts More Than 30 Legislative Offices"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Bruce<\/a>By Bruce Ross, Executive Director bross@wisducks.org<\/strong><\/p>\n

This article originally appeared in Wisconsin Waterfowl Association\u2019s November, 2023 Newsletter<\/a>\u00a0edition.<\/em><\/p>\n

In late October, WWA led a legislative briefing at the State Capitol on issues surrounding the state\u2019s growing population sandhill cranes (SHC).<\/p>\n

\"Sandhill<\/a>You may recall that last legislative session a bill to allow \u00a0sandhill crane hunting was introduced as a part of a \u201cSporting Freedom Package.\u201d\u00a0 Unfortunately, its introduction triggered partisan reactions, and the SHC hunting bill \u00a0never got a floor vote in either house. Even if it had passed, it\u2019s not clear the governor would have signed it.<\/p>\n

This year, WWA has taken a leadership role in continuing the discussion, joined by Delta Waterfowl, Wisconsin Wildlife Federation, and Safari Club International. Our approach to tamp down partisan, emotional reactions is to educate policy makers on the issues that a growing and unchecked SHC population brings, rather than focusing exclusively on a hunt. This is very consistent with WWA\u2019s approach since taking up this topic three years ago.<\/p>\n

\"Remarkable<\/a>First, it is important that policymakers fully understand that sandhills are managed by the federal government, not individual states. US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) representative David Scott explained the USFWS has successfully managed the crane\u2019s eastern population from the brink of extinction a century ago, to now over 100,000\u2014over three times the minimum population goal.<\/p>\n

There are several complex and intertwined SHC issues that should be considered by policymakers, including:<\/strong><\/p>\n