Some Michigan lawmakers said this week that a hunting season is needed to limit the number of sandhill cranes. Lawmakers said they’re concerned the big birds are damaging farmers’ crops.
Sandhill cranes like to eat planted seeds and young corn and wheat plants in the spring. Farmers can get permits from the federal government to kill the protected birds.
Amy Trotter with Michigan United Conservation Clubs said there’s a problem.
“Unfortunately, those agriculture permits, you are not allowed to even consume the crane. So you actually have to bury it and waste it. And from our perspective that in unconscionable,” Trotter said.
Advocates for the Sandhill crane say compared to other animals, the birds don’t do much damage to crops. Heather Good with Michigan Audubon said many more people want current protections for Sandhill cranes to stay in place.