Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
Cattail Management Symposium
Opening Comments
George M. Linz
USDA, APHIS, ADC
Denver Wildlife Research Center
North Dakota Field Station
North Dakota State University
Fargo, ND
On behalf of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service, Animal Damage Control, Denver Wildlife Research Center and U.S. Department
of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, welcome to the Cattail Management Symposium.
We all recognize that cattail-choked marshes serve as roost sites for late-summer
migrating blackbirds responsible for millions of dollars of sunflower damage.
At the same time, waterfowl production is probably reduced in these homogenous
stands of dense cattails. We have a number of wetland researchers and managers
scheduled to present their views on the role of cattail management for reducing
sunflower damage and increasing waterfowl production. This symposium serves
as a forum for participants to voice suggestions and concerns as we move forward
with research designed to determine the environmental effects of using herbicides
to manage cattail marshes.
Dr. Susan Haseltine, Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Northern
Prairie Wildlife Research Center has graciously accepted the task of Moderator.
Since we have 16 speakers, I ask that participants complete their presentations
within the allotted time.
Return to Contents
Next Section -- A Sunflower Grower's View of the
Blackbird Problem
U.S. Department of the Interior |
U.S. Geological Survey