Bad news for hunters. 5 species were removed from the list

The common marmot, tufted duck, coot, hazel grouse and woodcock were removed from the list of game species.

5 species will no longer be available for hunting. Why the change?

The yellow-eyed tufted duck is an expert diver. It can dive 7 meters into the lake in search of food. Formerly one of the most common Polish ducks, currently – according to the Red List of Threatened Species of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) – its population is showing a downward trend.

The blackheads, like the blackheads, are excellent divers, and the males are easily recognized by their rust-colored heads. Nowadays, the number of nesting moths in Poland is decreasing very quickly. This is consistent with the global population trend of this species.
The coot, which nests in aquatic vegetation, is closely related to the crane. It gets its name “coot” from the white “plate” on its forehead. When startled, it quickly runs through the water.

The hazel grouse is the smallest European forest grouse with a stocky body and short legs. In Poland, a rare breeding bird that can be found in the mountains (Sudetes, Carpathians) and in the east of the country. It winters in Poland. Due to the loss of its habitats, it is a highly endangered species in Central Europe.

The woodcock can be found throughout the lowland areas of Poland, but also in the lower parts of the mountains. It is a rare, sometimes moderately numerous breeding bird. Some birds stay for the winter. Some of them come in spring only for a few days and then fly further north. Flights usually take place in the evenings and at night. They usually migrate alone or in small groups of 5-6 individuals.

Changes to the list of game animals. Explanations from the Ministry of the Environment

According to the Ministry of Climate and Environment, eliminating one of the mortality factors of these bird species, which is hunting, will have a positive impact on their occurrence in Poland and will contribute to better protection of natural resources.

The effect of deleting the above-mentioned species from the list of game animals will also be the fulfillment of the principle of rational resource management, which, according to officials, may translate into the development of the so-called bird tourism, which will contribute to “optimizing social and economic benefits”. It will also facilitate scientific research in relation to affected bird species.

Attention was also drawn to the fact that hunting, in addition to affecting the number of some species, also involves scaring away birds. We know about both game and protected species, which may lead to a reduction in their population growth.

– We are implementing what we announced. None of these species have a negative impact on the agricultural or any other economy. However, we are observing a decline in the population of some of them. Excluding them from the list of game species is an obvious step. Biological diversity is Poland’s great wealth and we must protect it, emphasized Mikołaj Dorożała, Chief Nature Conservator, Deputy Minister of Climate and Environment.