Feds To Poison Crows To Protect Plovers On Cape
WELLFLEET, Mass. Federal scientists are
planning to use deception and poison to protect endangered piping plovers from
predatory crows on some Cape Cod beaches.
The Cape Cod National Seashore
will work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture this spring to create fake
plover nests on two beaches and fill them with hard-boiled chicken eggs that
have been laced with poison.
Seashore biologist Mary Hake tells the Cape
Cod Times that crows are the number one predator of plover eggs and similar
tactics have been used in other areas of the country.
She says
eliminating crows would also allow the Seashore to reduce its protection of
plovers at some beaches.
The Seashore will hold public information
meetings about the plan Feb. 25 in Eastham and March 3 in
Provincetown.
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Information from: Cape Cod Times,
http://www.capecodonline.com
Write to
Cape Cod National Seashore
99 Marconi Site Road
Wellfleet, MA 02667
E-mail Contact NPS
Phone
Park Headquarters
(508) 771-2144
Fax
(508) 349-9052