Farmers Warming Warning

GLOBAL warming has been blamed for a breeding boom among snowgeese that is causing havoc for US farmers.

Environmental experts believe warmer temperatures on Wrangel Island, the Arctic island where the birds nest, has led to increasing numbers migrating during the winter, says New Scientist magazine.

While the lesser snowgoose is a familiar sight in Washington state, the number of birds visiting – 83,000 – has doubled in 10 years.

Ted Oien, a dairy farmer in Washington state, estimates the birds ate pounds 5,000 worth of grass from his fields last winter.

Climate scientists said Wrangel Island was warming up, especially during the breeding season.

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