11/23/99

Coalition Special Investigation

Goose Killing by Maine's Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife VIOLATED FEDERAL LAW

Bridgton, Maine -- This summer, to the outrage of local citizens and the surprise of town officials, Canada geese -- including goslings at Highland Lake -- were drugged, captured and removed. The adults were shot and their goslings released in a wildlife park left to fend for themselves. This act of extremism was carried out by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife in an attempt to address conflicts that some people were having with geese. Their assertion that non-lethal controls wouldn't or didn't work is pathetic in light of the fact that a growing number of communities have had great success controlling geese without bloodshed. We decided to investigate.

Our investigation has confirmed that, in addition to being needless, the Department's action was a violation of federal regulations under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Fundamental to this Act is the requirement that ANY action involving the handling of migratory birds such as Canada geese, their eggs, or nests, requires a permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

A Freedom of Information Act request to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for copies of permits issued for the removal or killing of geese from Bridgton revealed that no permits had been issued for this action:

"We have reviewed our files and were unable to locate any records responsive to your request."
Ronald E. Lambertson, Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

To ensure there was no oversight on the part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, we made a similar request, under Maine's Freedom of Access Law, to Commissioner Lee E. Perry of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Commissioner Perry conceded that his personnel acted without the proper authority under federal law. While he claims that this was an oversight, we maintain that it was either willful ignorance, or complete incompetence on the part of his regional staff. The illegality of handling migratory birds without federal approval is such a basic concept. in wildlife management that to claim confusion over this point is just NOT BELIEVABLE.

Other infractions of federal law include the Department's use of drugs to capture migratory birds; only the USDA/APHIS is permitted to use this method. In addition, federal regulations state that shooting must be done on site, not after a relocation.

In light of the Department's demonstrated incompetence on the handling of this situation and clear lack of expertise on non-lethal goose control, we are calling on local officials to work with humane organizations to implement humane controls where needed that have been used with success in other communities. We are prepared to work with municipal officials toward that end.