Geese such as greylag geese, Canada geese, and Egyptian geese are causing growing damage to fields and grasslands. Especially along the North German west coast on several German Wadden Sea islands, agricultural organizations report that the problems have intensified.
Greylag geese, Canada geese, and Egyptian geese may now be hunted from July 16 to January 31. The extended hunting periods do not apply at all to the strictly protected barnacle geese; hunting of these is allowed from October until the end of February.
The barnacle goose is listed as a protected species under the EU Bird Directive. Therefore, it may only be killed in exceptional cases, if it can be proven that this prevents significant agricultural damage and if no other options exist.
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Hunting regulations for badgers are also being adjusted in Schleswig-Holstein. These animals may now be hunted year-round at specific locations such as dikes and verges. Their burrowing endangers water safety in these areas.
The CDU state Minister of Agriculture decided on this expansion without the consent of his Green Party counterpart for the Environment, and without parliamentary approval in Kiel. According to the division of administrative responsibilities, this is not required.
Nature organizations have already announced legal proceedings against the decision. They expressed concerns about the possible impact on goose populations and broader ecological effects. Farmers' organizations have welcomed the decision. Agriculture Minister Schwarz assured that the situation will be closely monitored and regulations will be adjusted where necessary.