Geese cull in the autumn

A COORDINATED cull of greylag geese is set to take place across Shetland, this autumn.

However, up to 325 of the birds will already be taken out during this summer’s breeding season as 15 licenses to shoot geese have already been issued to farmers and crofters.

The wild goose population has expanded dramatically over recent years, creating a headache for the agricultural community.

Currently the breeding and visiting greylag population is estimated to be just below 8,000, a number that is expected to rise to 10,000 by 2015.

Many farmers, particularly in the south mainland, have stopped growing turnips and other crops due to the damage caused by the birds.

Local farmer and councillor Allison (Flea) Duncan said that at present the birds were in the hills and not on farm land as it was the mating and breeding season.

He added that there was a consensus among all agencies involved that something needed to be done.

“Once their eggs have hatched they will move again on to the richer grass lands.

“The problem is not the geese that are migrating from Iceland; our problem is the increase of geese numbers over the years and which are now resident in the isles.

“The first pair of greylag geese that was ever noted to be nesting in Shetland was in 1984, and it has escalated ever since,” he said.

Juan Brown of Scottish Natural Heritage said that a “co-ordinated geese management effort” was likely to get under way to minimise the agricultural damage the geese are causing.

This includes scaring the birds off the land but also shooting, he said.