A pilot scheme to shoot marauding wild greylag goose on Lewis and Harris has been launched.
The geese are a huge pest across the Western Isles with large flocks trampling, soiling and devouring crops and grassland.
Not so long ago, the Greylag was a migratory species but numbers have now exploded out of control.
Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) confirmed a target to shoot 2,200 geese during two culls this year.
The work will be undertaken by experienced volunteer shooters following established best practice methods said the agency.
The goose meat can be sold under special licenses.
An initial cull commences this week until the end of March. Another shooting round will take place in autumn.
The scheme will be repeated for the next two years.
Scheme to shoot marauding geese
17 February 2015
Landowners, farmers and township clerks in Lewis and Harris have been asked for permission to access their ground for shooting. Access has been allowed across most of the affected areas.
Stornoway-
“Since we began an annual count in 2010 numbers have increased by more than 45%, and we now estimate the population to be in the order of 5850 birds.
“We are responding to a request from the local goose management group to help them manage that goose population to a more sustainable level.”
“Our initial target is for an additional 2200 geese to be shot this year as we aim to deliver a significant population reduction by 2017.”