Kalmar Municipality is conducting protective hunting of geese from April to June to reduce sanitary problems and protect the local ecosystem, as geese have become more numerous at the city's beaches, causing issues for bathers and residents. The municipality said the protective hunting will occur at locations including Kalmarsundsbadet, Kattrumpan, Norrlidsbadet, Fredriksskans, Bergaviksbadet, and Lindö. Hunters will wear reflective vests and use municipally marked vehicles to ensure safety during the operations.
According to Kalmar Municipality, the goal is to reduce sanitary problems, protect ecosystems and fish stocks, and create better conditions for residents and visitors at Kalmar's beaches. The exact number of geese being targeted in the hunts has not been disclosed. The municipality combines protective hunting with other measures such as movable cardboard foxes and adapted scare tactics.
Cormorants are also increasing, and protective hunting of cormorants occurs year-round, primarily on islands around Stensö. The specific sanitary problems caused by the geese and cormorants, as well as the effectiveness of previous protective hunting or scare tactics, remain unclear. It is unknown if there are any legal challenges or public opposition to the protective hunting, and the budget for these measures has not been confirmed.