This was shared in Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s March, 2025 Newsletter edition. Download the original copy with included links here.

By Bruce Ross, Executive Director, Wisconsin Waterfowl Association

This Editorial for the WWA Newsletter originally appeared in Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s February, 2025 Newsletter edition.

The song and stately presence of the sandhill crane is becoming increasingly prevalent across the state. However, the rising population of this migratory bird incurs significant costs for state farmers, with nearly $4 million in annual crop loss or prevention expenses.

So the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association welcomes Governor Evers’ acknowledgment of the issues posed by the expanding sandhill crane population for state farmers. A recent announcement indicates that his 2025-26 budget will allocate millions of dollars to compensate farmers for using a seed treatment designed to deter sandhill cranes from consuming freshly planted corn.

This seed treatment can mitigate corn crop damage caused by cranes and reduce the number of cranes culled under agricultural depredation permits, which amounted to 1,400 last year.

But as an unintended consequence, fewer crane depredation fatalities would accelerate population growth, further threatening crops and necessitating increased use of seed treatments and taxpayer subsidies. A vicious cycle with farmer and taxpayer footing the bill.

Cranes foraging in a freshly planted corn field

Research suggests that up to 3 million acres of corn are at risk, potentially costing $40 million annually for treatments. Moreover, there is no provision for other crops affected by crane depredation, such as potato and wheat, which constitute nearly half of the total costs. These expenses will grow along with the crane population.

Governor Evers’ recognition of these crane issues follows a recent bipartisan Legislative Council Study, which examined the problem over five months. The committee was comprised of Democratic and Republican legislators, as well as public members representing farmers, bird watchers, scientists, and hunting groups.

The study committee concluded that supporting corn farmers is indeed justified as part of a comprehensive, science-based, data-driven management strategy for these federally managed migratory birds.

Potato damage from cranes

But the study also highlighted the necessity for additional measures to reduce the impact on crops other than corn. It recommended that the Department of Natural Resources collaborate with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on a broader, international effort to manage the crane population according to established goals through a limited crane hunt within the state.  Like 17 other states and three provinces. Such an action would also make the hunter-funded state wildlife damage fund available to farmers of crop where mitigation treatment is not feasible.

The crane population far surpasses continental population goals while farmers, not birdwatchers, pay the price.  The Governor’s corn-only subsidy is a good start but doesn’t fully address the issue.  Now, with Governor Evers’ appreciation of the problem, and the Study Committee’s comprehensive strategy, the topic should have bi-partisan interest when the legislature takes up the budget shortly.

By Bruce Ross, Executive Director bross@wisducks.org

This article originally appeared in Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s December, 2024 Newsletter edition.

Waterfowlers bring more to the conservation table than most conservationists.  Our role in funding conservation and undertaking the restoration work like that noted in the Habitat article give us serious conservation credibility.  This is important when we go to Madison to explore or to educate on topics relevant to our waterfowling passion.

With less than 10% of the population as active hunters, the hunter conservation ethic is spread thinly.  And even that percentage has continued to decline in the past 20 years when the state’s Constitutional right to hunt was passed overwhelmingly.

There’s little question that WWA is the strongest voice for all waterfowl hunting issues, partnering with others to leverage our respective strengths whether the topic is hunting rights and regulations, habitat restorations, or funding important to conservation or wildlife.

In 2024:

• WWA continued its strong role on the DNR’s migratory game bird committee. We may have the most powerful voice in establishing the state waterfowl season structure, primarily based on based on the number of informed survey respondents we have on those topics. And we quickly share with you the information from the committee to keep us duckhunting geeks in the know.
• Getting a lot of press, and requiring lots of effort, WWA is the leader for a clear-eyed, unbiased review of whether a sandhill crane hunt is appropriate for the state. If one follows the science, respects the data, and obeys the Constitution, there little question a crane hunt is justified.  But some would rather let emotions rule such hunting decisions.
  • Volunteer George Ermert’s volunteer efforts to get past such fickle perspectives has led to a legislative study committee to consider the question. Our own Todd Schaller represents us on this committee of legislators, farmers and interested organizations.
  • After this committee reaches conclusions, any crane hunt proposal still needs to go through the political process and be signed into law by the Governor.
  • The incomplete rhetoric by those opposed to a hunt has created some unreasonably high bars, but WWA will continue to lay out the facts to the committee, legislators, the general public (two statewide editorials this year) to ensure your constitutional right to harvest game is not unduly infringed.
• We’ve been engaged on public funding challenges in the years ahead, specifically for the DNR’s Fish and Wildlife account, and the Knowles Nelson Stewardship program. Both of these will be dealt with in the next legislative session, but we’re part of coalitions preparing to highlight and advocate where these programs are important to waterfowler interests.
• Such ad hoc coalitions are important to presenting a unified front on issues of mutual interest, even if that interest is sometimes indirect. For example, we weighed in on the adverse impacts on the Greater Prairie Chicken of a huge solar farm – if bird advocates don’t hang together on such issues, as Ben Franklin said, “we will assuredly hang separately”.

When WWA was formed 40 years ago, it’s initial purpose was to be the voice of state waterfowlers.  The founders can be proud that we remain true to that mission