Call for national geese management plan

Angus MacNeil SNP, for Na h-Eileanan an Iar has today called for a ,National Geese Management Plan to control numbers for safety reasons in addition to stopping the damage that they are causing on croft land and many football parks in the islands.

Angus MacNeil commented:

“The issue needs to be dealt with as a priority as many who I have spoken to throughout the Western Isles have told me that if the issue isn’t looked at soon then a lot of land in the Western Isles will be beyond use.

“Geese numbers “

“This spring the number of geese seems to be worse than ever. The other morning I saw three dead on the road in Seilbost Harris and a car bumper beside them.  Aside from the agricultural damage, they are causing concerns for health & safety.  Some of the geese graze on road sides and get hit by cars such are the numbers.  They are now commonly being seen where they were never seen before.  This issue is now at the serious stage, and if it is not dealt with as a priority then it will be too late to do anything about it.

“What we need now is for a goose management plan to be put in place, so that numbers can be controlled, and that not as much damage will be inflicted on crofting land and on football parks throughout the Western Isles.

“SNH will have to set the ball rolling so that this serious issue can be tackled once and for all, doing nothing is not an option, we need a co ordinated approach to attack this problem urgently.  Everybody is fed up and concerned  with the every growing danger of increasing geese numbers ”

Hebrides Today brings you the latest news from the Western Isles