For the third time in 14 years, the Wisconsin Legislature is again attempting to mandate the state’s DNR to create a Sandhill Crane hunting season. The International Crane Foundation is disappointed by the legislature’s continued attempts to tie crop damage relief for farmers to a Sandhill Crane hunt. Though there is no evidence that a hunt will provide relief to farmers experiencing crop damage by cranes, there are other, more effective ways we can support farmers experiencing these issues.
Current Threats and Concerns
Wisconsin is a vital breeding area for Sandhill Cranes. As threats to North America’s two species of cranes grow, our research tells us that now is not the time for a hunt in Wisconsin. This is no matter how strongly some feel about the issue. These species are the Sandhill Crane and the Endangered Whooping Crane.
- Avian Influenza: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) is currently causing significant die offs of Sandhill Cranes in the Eastern Population. In Indiana alone, at least 2,000 Sandhill Cranes died of the virus in February. Accounting for potentially 2% of the Eastern Population’s roughly 100,000 individuals. This population migrates through the eastern United States. It is the population that would be subject to a hunt in Wisconsin on their breeding grounds. HPAI is an unpredictable variable in the stability of crane populations—now is not the time for further hunting pressures in Wisconsin.
- Whooping Crane Poaching: The fragile, reintroduced Whooping Crane population in Wisconsin is highly vulnerable to accidental shootings. It is often remarked that hunters would never mistakenly shoot a Whooping Crane while hunting Sandhill Cranes. That is not the case. Tragically, in 2021, the largest Whooping Crane poaching incident in recent history occurred in Oklahoma. In one event, five Whooping Cranes—approximately 1% of the entire wild population—were killed by Sandhill Crane hunters.
- Out-of-Date Management Plan: The Eastern Population Sandhill Crane management plan is 15 years out-of-date. It is irresponsible to base major wildlife management decisions on an antiquated management plan. This should be updated prior to any further discussion of a hunt.
Meaningful Solutions
There are multiple distinct issues at hand, including the resolution of crop damage for farmers. As well as the promotion of a recreational hunting season. The International Crane Foundation advocates for decoupling these two separate and different issues. Instead, implementing real, meaningful solutions to crop damage.
Advocates of a Sandhill Crane hunting season have long promoted it as the solution to crop damage. Although we know a hunting season is not going to help farmers. The science presented by experts to the Legislative Study Committee on Sandhill Cranes last year made clear that hunting will not provide any meaningful assistance to farmers.
In February, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers announced proposed budget investments of more than $3.7 million to reimburse corn farmers up to 50 percent of the total cost of purchasing seed treatment that discourages birds, especially Sandhill Cranes, from eating their seed. This proposed funding is not tied to a hunting season and would be administered by the state’s agricultural agency.
