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Bird ban worries wildlife federation

Veronica Rhodes
Leader-Post

Saturday, September 29, 2007

A U.S ban against uncooked poultry products couldn't come at a worse time for American hunters who are flooding into Saskatchewan for migratory and game bird hunting.

Darrell Crabbe, executive director of the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation, said nearly 11,000 American hunters visit Saskatchewan every year, the majority of whom come for bird hunting, which is currently in its peak season. Crabbe explained he spoke to one American hunter who travelled into Saskatchewan on Friday and was not made aware of the new ban at the border.

"These guys are up here assuming that they'll be able to take home (what they kill)," said Crabbe.

Earlier this week, the highly pathogenic H7N3 avian influenza was detected at a commercial poultry farm near Regina Beach. While the strain of the virus is deadly to domestic poultry, it isn't generally a risk to humans.

The United States Department of Agriculture issued a regional trade ban, stopping live birds and unprocessed avian products only from Saskatchewan. The U.S. has not imported poultry products from the province since 2005.

Crabbe called the ban a "knee-jerk" reaction possibly put in place to give the illusion of protecting the U.S. poultry industry. But birds won't stop flying because of the ban.

"Over the next month or so, there will be six to eight million live birds flying over the same border they're trying to protect," he said.

Crabbe explained that while the season begins in September, many hunters try to be in Saskatchewan for October 1, when most birds begin migrating south. The federation is attempting to get the word out to visiting hunters through the organization's 26,000 members across the province, as well as working with conservation officers.

On its Web site, Saskatchewan Environment is reminding visitors that it is an ethical hunting practice to not take more animals or birds than can be appropriately utilized. The department also reminds hunters of the regulations concerning wasting and abandoning game.

In order to avoid any waste, the federation is suggesting hunters reduce their takes. Since many hunters have been coming to the province for years, Crabbe said they could share any cleaned birds with local contacts or friends, or donate them to local food banks.

"Our members are going to be telling these guys there might be some old folks in town who might like to have a few geese in their freezer. The food banks are very much interested in trying to stock up as best they can for winter," said Crabbe.

Visiting hunters could be eating some of their game before heading home, Crabbe said, adding they could also have the meat processed locally into jerky or sausage before crossing the border.
© The Leader-Post (Regina) 2007