Waconia mayor on cormorant management legislation

Cormorant
Cormorants are considered nuisance birds in some parts of northern Minnesota.
Photo courtesy Leech Lake Band of Chippewa

In a rare display of bi-partisanship, members from both sides of the aisle in Congress have joined forces against a common enemy: cormorants.

Rep. John Kline, R-Minn., has introduced the "Cormorant Management and Natural Resources Protection Act" along with co-sponsor Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn. The law would allow states greater latitude in managing overpopulations of the large black migratory bird.

Kline's office said that the impetus for the bill came from residents of Carver County, including Waconia mayor Jim Nash, who spoke with MPR's Tom Crann about the measure.