Hoping for approval – farmer sees killing as a solution to the swan problem

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A 29-year-old farmer from Garsten in Upper Austria complains of damage to pastures and fears for his livestock, which could become ill from swan droppings. All deterrent measures have failed so far. He is concerned that the permit to shoot five cygnets has been revoked.

Florian R. is a farmer with heart and soul. The 29-year-old took over a farm in Garsten two years ago and runs dairy cows full-time with his wife Marlene.

You’d think he could actually live a contented life, but that’s not the case: “I’m facing a huge problem,” he says. Because he sees his happiness threatened by a group of swans, who have reportedly chosen his plot next to the Enns as a feeding and sleeping place, especially in the spring.

More than 40 water birds
“We have 4.5 hectares of meadow, ten percent of which is affected,” says R., who says he has counted more than forty water birds. “We and our neighbors suffer enormously from the overpopulation of animals, which cannot be expelled,” he emphasizes.

Attempts to deter people, such as setting up kites with telescopic arms, were unsuccessful. “The swans are very smart. My father-in-law once sat down one day and chased them away, but they were always back twenty minutes later.”

R. is particularly bothered by the manure left behind by the birds: “This can cause diseases and miscarriages in my cows.” Unfortunately, it is not possible to filter the feces from the food.

Deterrence by shooting
R. and his neighbors therefore submitted an application to the Steyr-Land BH in early January to shoot five young swans, which was ordered last week but annulled by the administrative court. “Last year only two animals were shot, so we finally had some peace and quiet for a long time,” says R., who hopes that a shooting permit may still be granted.

Source: Krone

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