05/19/00

Unjustified Goose Killings Uncovered in Holyoke Mass.

Holyoke Water Works Secretly and Illegally Killing Canada Geese

Holyoke -- Concerned citizens from areas surrounding the Holyoke Water Works reservoirs contacted the Coalition because geese and their goslings were disappearing from around the reservoir and those that remained were behaving as though they had been terrorized.

A Coalition investigation revealed that, according to documents from the federal government, Holyoke Water Works Manager, David Conti, had been applying for, and receiving permits to kill geese (and other birds) in the reservoir areas under his management at least since 1998.

One of the locals concerned about what was happening to the geese -- helped the Coalition investigate WHY Holyoke Water Works was killing geese and why nobody knew about it. Conti was sent a Massachusetts Open Records Request for copies of any studies or scientific justification for these killings. After failing to respond within the time allowed by state law, an appeal process was initiated. This precipitated an immediate response.

Conti admitted that he had no scientific studies, surveys or research to justify the killing of geese -- or any birds, for that matter.

Dr. Gregg Feigelson, Chairman of the Coalition, responded to this finding by saying, "These Canada goose killings are clearly a violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act: Canada geese cannot be killed unless they pose a serious threat to human health or safety. These permits were applied for under false pretense. It looks like Conti has been caught running a private shooting club."

The Coalition has investigated many allegations about geese and water quality, and has yet to find evidence that geese pose a threat to drinking water supplies. Ironically, one classic study was carried out in Massachusetts by Johnston and Moulin, "Microbial Impact to Public Drinking Water Supplies by Nonmigratory Canada Geese," Boston University/Harvard Medical School under Permit from the Mass. Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, 12/31/87).