LONGVIEW — Federal officials are considering a plan to spray vegetable oil on cormorant eggs in an effort to save Columbia River salmon. That would reduce the size of the black seabird colony on East Sand Island.
The Longview Daily News reported that the vegetable oil would prevent the cormorant eggs from hatching.
A federal study says the seabirds eat 11 million juvenile salmon and steelhead each year. The fish are protected under the Endangered Species Act.
About 100 nesting pairs of cormorants were on the island in 1989, but 15,000 live there now. Officials hope to reduce the colony by about half over four years.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers also proposes shooting 11,000 birds.
The proposed plan was released Friday. The corps will make its decision after a 30-day review period.
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