UK: Frustration Grows as Greylag Geese Damage Grazing Land, Evades Shooters in Scotland

A group of Greylag goose has been blamed for damaging grazing land in the UK's Scottish territory. This came after crofters raised such growing concerns regarding the increasing number of troublesome birds, wherein some eat, damage, or drop their waste on grass known as coastal meadows or machair.

The situation has become dire to the point that the local government imposed small-scale shootings to kill the birds to significantly reduce their population. Yet, the promised results of such an action plan were to no avail.

Pasture Land Damaged

Resident graylag geese have been reported to be causing localized mayhem in Scotland's agriculture sector on the west coast since the start of 2022. The incident comes as the expansion of agricultural land in the area has increased over the decades.

The agricultural damage was evident that the Scottish government in February this year agreed to replenish the fund measures, to control the population of the notorious geese on some islands. These measures include the gunning down of the birds.

However, the Scottish Crofting Federation (SCF) reportedly told the rural affairs committee of the Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh that the said heavy firing was not effective.

One of these instances is when the geese could recognize the incoming shooters' vehicles and then fly off, according to SCF Chief Executive Patrick Krause, as cited by the BBC.

The graylag goose and its companions were described as elusive, forcing local authorities to employ skilled marksmen and women to bring the job done. The fast-moving geese also recognize the body movements of the incoming shooters as they navigate through the hill.

Krause highlighted that the birds have been clever over the years, making them hard to target and kill, as per the BBC. The SCF official also cited that some crofters perceive that it is no longer worthy to engage in agriculture due to the magnitude of the issue.

Due to the stalled progress, no further updates were provided regarding the conceptualization or implementation of new measures against the geese.

Goose Species and Habitat

Also called the graylag goose, the greylag goose (Anser anser) species belongs to the family Anatidae, which includes ducks, geese, and swans, as per the UK's nature conservation charity Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).

With an 'Amber' status in the UK, the bird species are placed under the UK Birds of Conservation Concern Red List and protected by The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

The Amber status is the second highest out of the three-tier conservation status level, with 'Green' being the lowest and 'Red' being the highest.

These relatively large birds are characterized by a mixture of white and grey feather color throughout their body, with an orange or pink-like beak and legs. Other feather colors may range between brown and cream or buff.

In their natural habitats such as grassland and grassland, a greylag goose's main diet is cereal leaves, grass, spilled grain, and roots, according to RSPB. In the UK, resident graylag geese are not only found in Scotland but also in Wales, England, and Northern Ireland.