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01/23/98 State Rep. Mark Young of Hubbardton, Vermont is developing legislation for a "special hunt" for so-called "resident" geese inhabiting Vermont lakes like Lake Hortonia in his area this Fall. It appears that Mr. Young is dreadfully concerned about flocks of 50-60 geese on that Lake in his district among others like the geese at Sadawga Pond in Whitingham that have become the subject of complaints for despoiling lawns and golf courses in the southern part of the state like the exclusive Quechee Lakes and Bennington and Windham Counties. Furthermore, Mr. William Crenshaw, the migratory bird specialist with Vermont Fish & Wildlife and also the key player instrumental in that Department's attempted extermination of 8 mute swans in Milton, admitted that "birds are automatically drawn to lawns and golf courses that border Vermont lakes and offer a ready food supply." (The Sunday Rutland, Vermont Herald on 18 January 1998, staff writer Tom Mitchell). Feeding on legumes like sedge, clover, alfalfa, grasses, etc. on wet meadows, Young claimed that geese "eat the grass and new shoots of grass faster than you get your grass to come (up)" (Sunday Rutland Herald). Based on the volume of complaints received in the summer months of June and July, the proposed season would run from Sept. 1-15 "early enough not to interfere with 'migratory' geese that nest in Canada." Since this whole issue involves a mere 50 geese, it is fair to assume that the "volume of complaints" mentioned could, as is common, refer to a scant hand full of people. Interestingly enough, while wildlife officials stated that "no evidence suggests that the migrant Atlantic Canada geese become members of resident flocks," there's no evidence to suggest that they don't either. Thus, fish and game is once again utilizing their favorite brand of logic: the lack-of-information argument. For further information, please contact Adam Oertly: Phone: 1-888-756-WILD
12/9/97 Free at Last! Finally, after 5 months of living in captivity, the Carlos Avery Canada geese are now truly wild and free. Last Thursday, December 4th, 262 Canadas took a journey by truck to Oklahoma. The next day all 262 geese walked out of their crates onto the Choctaw land healthy and happy. This will be their home until they will be able to migrate next June, after their flight feathers return. (The MN DNR, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, clipped their wing feathers, making them flightless). These geese were the last of the adult Canada geese which were rounded-up this past summer in Minnesota. They were awaiting the horrors of the slaughtering house until they found a reprieve in late August. Friends of Animals and Their Environment, the Minnesota Humane Society, and The Humane Society of the United States filed a law suit against FWS for the wrongful issuance of permits to the MNDNR and to Dr. Cooper of the University of Minnesota. August 21,1997, a federal judge revoked the permit to MN DNR and the permit in part to Dr. Cooper. However, getting these remaining geese released was a great effort. After it was all worked out and once we started to get the geese ready for their liberation journey all went well. It took about three hours to get them in the crates and loaded on the truck for their journey to OK. During most of this time, a wonderful event happened; a flock of wild Canadas, flying in V- formation, circled above the area where the pens were. As they flew around the site they were honking, talking to the penned geese. After about two or three revolutions, they would fly off but only to return minutes later to communicate some more. I believe that they were cheering on the penned geese. Somehow they knew and understood that freedom for their cousins would be happening soon. I also believe that through their communications they told each other that someday they would meet again. (Story courtesy of Linda Hatfield, Friends of Animals and Their Environment)
11/14/97 Kind-hearted Citizens of Sioux Falls Defend Their Right to Feed Geese - and Win! In some communities the age-old activity of feeding geese and ducks is a crime punishable by stiff fines. While other communities contemplate passing similar laws, the good people of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, want no part of it. They enjoy interacting and feeding their feathered friends, and can't imagine what sort of people would go out of their way to deprive them of this positive experience and prohibit them from expressing kindness toward their fellow creatures. Could it be a case of "I don't like the geese so nobody should"? Well, in Sioux Falls, this selfish attitude was recently defeated by a vote of the city council. A disgruntled lake-side neighbor convinced one of the town council members to introduce a motion for an ordinance that would ban the feeding of waterfowl in city parks. Canada goose admirers were left thinking: in what crazy world is feeding geese a criminal act? Insulted and angry, they mobilized. In no time, opposition to the ban materialized : nearly 900 names filled petitions, letters appeared in the editorial section of the local paper, and calls were made to radio talk shows. In fact, it was hard to find anyone who supported the feeding ban. At the city council meeting, only two people spoke in favor of the ban. Not surprisingly, one was the local Game, Fish and Parks officer. Public opposition was overwhelming and the council voted 6 to 1 against the proposed no-feeding ordinance. But it gets better - now there is a plan in the works to make food available in the parks for those who wish to feed the waterfowl. To discourage people from feeding the geese bread (which isn't particularly nutritious), old newspaper vending machines will be used to sell corn for 25 cents a cup. Kudos to the good folks of Sioux Falls!
10/31/97 Officials in Anchorage Alaska Want to Kill 2000 Geese The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG) and the Alaska branch of the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) have issued a proposal (Draft Environmental Assessment) that calls for the killing of 2000 Canada geese in the Anchorage area by the year 2001. In their proposal they say that "Opportunities to achieve the population goal through sport hunting will be maximized, and will take priority over other forms of population control whenever possible." This is no big surprise since new hunting opportunities will bring lots of money into the ADFG. In the absence of recreational killing, they advocate killing 730 geese each year for four years and reducing the number of young by egg collection and relocation. They note that killing would then be continued as necessary to maintain the population at 2000 geese. It is stated that the eggs and dead geese would be used for human consumption. In the proposal they argue that the need for such action (based on public surveys, etc.) arises from "public safety" concerns. In 1995, a military aircraft struck a flock of geese and crashed shortly after take-off; all 24 passengers on board were killed. This tragic, but rare event, is being used to scare people into accepting the need to kill thousands of geese. In fact, while the proposal talks about geese being a safety issue, the only documented concern appears to be the 1995 crash. Some mention is made of geese as periodically causing traffic hazards, but these would seem to of greater hazard to the geese than to humans. The proposal also alleges that geese are a threat to public health and a health risk to themselves. Interestingly, no scientific data is presented to support either of these claims. The real reason they seek to kill geese probably has more to do with complaints that they receive from people who say that geese are damaging their lawns and making a mess. Since it looks pretty depraved to advocate killing thousands of geese because they make a mess, they are desperately looking for more substantial reasons; their case is anything but compelling. It is also clear from the report that non-lethal methods have not been implemented in a serious or well organized fashion. Some non-lethal control efforts have been made and are believed to be successful. For example, airfield personnel have been diligently harrassing geese away from runways. While they are on the right track, it is evident that they have been very slow to implement long-term habitat modification in key areas and are using inefficient forms of goose dispersal. On October 22 the USFWS held a public meeting in Anchorage on the proposed plan to kill geese. The meeting was dominated by people opposed to the killing. To show their opposition they wore bright green "No Goose Slaughter" stickers. In response, the USFWS has scheduled a "workshop" meeting for November 3, 1997. The USFWS is accepting comments on their proposal through Nov. 30, 1997. Canada geese are migratory birds and "protected" by federal law. Whether in Alaska or Florida, what happens to them is everyone's business.
9/4/97 Geese Win Major Legal Victory in Minnesota A Minnesota Federal Court ruling will likely have an impact on the slaughtering of Canada Geese around the country. Federal Judge Richard Kyle revoked permits issued by the U S Fish and Wildlife Service to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to round up and slaughter Canada Geese in the Minneapolis area. Judge Kyle ruled that two federal agencies violated their own regulations by issuing the permits. On Wednesday, Minnesota animal protection groups (Friends of Animals and the Environment, Minnesota Humane Society and the Humane Society of the United States) called a press conference at the pen where the geese are being held. The groups have demanded their immediate release. The geese are still in DNR custody in violation of federal law and international treaties. The Judge's ruling confirmed what the Coalition has been asserting all along; that Canada geese cannot be killed under a special purpose permit (50 CFR 21.27) since "depredation" is limited by law to "serious (emphasis ours) damage to agricultural, horticultural and fish cultural interests" (50 CFR 21.42). It is clear that the those who drafted the Migratory Bird Treaty never intended for its provisions to be used to sanction killing migratory birds because of damage to golf shoes or minor inconveniences, etc. In Wisconsin, officials have sought permits similiar to those issued in Minnesota. With Judge Kyle's decision, the entire plan may have to be scrapped. Thus any irritations with geese will have to be dealt with directly by curtailing Canada goose propagation programs that cater to "sport" hunters who desire an ever increasing number of geese to kill.
7/31/97 Goose Killers Loose in Seattle, Washington SEATTLE - Yet another front has opened up in the battle to save Canada geese, in the guise of still another "kill and feed" program. Since late June, Wildlife protectionists from the Pacific Northwest, in particular the Northwest Animal Rights Network, have been in a race against time and a battle of wills with the US Dept. of Agriculture/APHIS/Animal Damage Control (ADC). Two of these "hot spots" for the geese are Fisher Mills, a flour mill on Harbor Island near West Seattle; and the summer cabin on Lake Bosworth (south of Granite Falls in Snohomish County) of property owner George Bridgeman. With the specter raised of an alleged health threat from goose droppings and fear of contamination of their product, Fisher Mills has brought in the ADC to kill some 200 geese. There is currently no indication that any humane non-lethal techniques have been employed to keep geese out of the areas of concern. Approximately 400 geese from Lake Bosworth have presumably already been killed. Since it's assumed that the geese have completed their summer molt, the ADC plans to bait the birds with bread laced with alpha-chloralose, a potent sedative, and will then truck the geese to slaughter, where the flesh will allegedly be given to the unsuspecting poor and homeless in area food pantries. What makes the ADC's involvement so worrisome is that the ADC is one of the agencies that was recently exempted, under secret Executive Order, from the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. This means that massive numbers of geese now can be slaughtered anywhere in the country for even more specious reasons than usual. Just as heinous is the notion that the bodies of the dead birds -- already contaminated with pesticide and other noxious chemical residues, and further laced with this chemical compound -- may be offloaded on the most vulnerable members of society without their knowledge or consent, and without benefit of the food safety standards that the rest of us take for granted. One hopeful note: One of the charitable organizations, Bellingham Lighthouse Mission, has told the Coalition to Protect Canada Geese that it will under no circumstances accept any of this false "charity" from ADC.
6/25/97 201 Canada Geese Slaughtered by Clarkstown Politicians Clarkstown, NY - In what many locals have called a blatant breach of democracy, the Town of Clarkstown proceeded with plans to exercise federal and state permits to round up and send hundreds of wild Canada geese to horribly cruel deaths at a poultry slaughterhouse. 201 geese have been killed thus far at L&B; Farms in Walton, NY. This action has sparked immense controversy within the county as it clearly proceeded against the will of the majority of citizens. While a similiar action occurred last year with the killing of 256 geese, this year many high profile people spoke out against this barbaric form of conflict resolution, including a variety of community leaders, local radio talk show hosts, the town supervisor from a bordering town, and movie star Alec Baldwin. Town Supervisor Holbrook, who initially proposed killing geese by gassing them, has actively been refusing to acknowledge opposition to his bloodlust since 1993. His obsessive behavior on this issue has called into question his integrity as an elected official. Many have voiced the simple question, why is he carrying on like this? This situation has also brought suspicion upon certain Town Board members who have acted as though they were being politically threatened by the Supervisor. It appears that some Town Board members were strong-armed into putting aside the interests of the community so that his killing agenda could proceed. Several incidents surrounding this issue suggest that the governing powers in Clarkstown are not operating in accord with the principles of democracy. On May 27th the town board voted unanimously to remove the Supervisor's unilateral authority on the Canada goose issue, and further agreed that non-lethal methods should be explored in earnest. On June 10th, the Supervisor introduced a motion to begin the killing of geese. The board voted 3-2 to proceed with the killing even though non-lethal methods had NOT been explored during the intervening two weeks time. That this vote came up at all shows a complete confidence on Holbrook's part that he can get away with open acts of coercion and political game-playing. There is no way that the Supervisor can legitimately deny that a substantial number of his constituency detests his killing schemes. At a number of meetings there were hardly any goose-kill supporters in sight. The town board workshop meeting held on June 16th was packed with residents who opposed goose killing. The Supervisor was visibly disturbed by the attendance and grudgingly allowed two Coalition representatives to address the Board. They asked that the Board enact a moratorium on the killing until the committment to non-lethal methods was fulfilled. While a supportive Board member was expressing his willingness to introduce such a motion at the next Town Board meeting, he was cut off in mid-sentence. The sound system was shut off and, in the momentary confusion, the Supervisor adjourned the meeting and fled the room. Those who didn't believe what they saw would get to see a repeat two weeks later. The next scheduled Town Board meeting was June 24th, a time by which 201 geese had already been sent to their deaths. Realizing that there was a good chance that the moratorium on killing might be introduced and pass, and knowing that 149 geese could still be killed on his permit, the Supervisor cancelled the Town Board meeting on the morning of the 23rd -- technically not the required 48-hour notice. The excuse he gave was that he had to attend his daughter's graduation -- a local graduation that not only ended before the time of the Board meeting, but whose date was known by the Supervisor months in advance. It turns out that he wanted permission to capture and kill geese from a reservoir within the town that is owned by the water company. He clearly felt that the moratorium might pass and realized that the water company wouldn't respond to his request before the anticipated vote. He cancelled the meeting to buy time on the chance he might be able to kill more geese. The water company denied him permission. The rescheduled town board meeting took place two days later. On June 26th the Supervisor announced that the killing was "done for the year;" concerned residents, knowing that his claim was not legally binding, and knowing his tendency for dishonesty, once again addressed the Town Board seeking a moratorium on any further killing. In what has become a recurring theme, Holbrook brought the meeting to an abrupt and unnatural end at a pause while Councilman Maloney was speaking. Mr. Maloney was proposing a 3-part plan that included a resolution to enact a moratorium on goose killing until non-lethal methods of control could finally be tried in earnest. Before he could finish, the Supervisor rapidly mumbled a motion to adjourn the meeting, which was seconded by one of his buddies. He then banged his hand on the table and stormed out of the room. At the town board meeting scheduled for July 7th, the Coalition will once again demand that a moratorium on the killing of geese be enacted. The supervisor is under the impression that having killed geese the protest will die down, just one more delusion on his part
6/21/97 Goose Round Ups Begin in Clarkstown: 170 Geese Abducted and Sent to Slaughter Despite massive opposition, the Town Supervisor of Clarkstown Charles Holbrook went ahead with his plans to round up and exterminate up to 350 Canada geese. After two days of round ups, wildlife contractor Tom Maglaras of West Nyack, NY claims to have live captured 170 geese from parks and private properties within Clarkstown. Holbrook stated Friday that the round ups would continue until the molting (flightless) period was over at the end of July. This action is similiar to last year's controversial round up where 251 allegedly nuisance Canada geese were collected and sent to slaughter. In a shallow attempt to win public support, the plan included provisions to feed the dead geese to the needy. Despite the fact that geese regularly feed on pesticide-treated lawns, Clarkstown had no plans to test the geese for toxic contamination. Upon legal challenge from the Coalition, the town was forced to have the dead birds tested for toxicity. The NY State Department of Health found that the geese were contaminated with lead and therefore unfit for human consumption. This major public relations blow for the future of such killing programs prompted the NY State Department of Environmental Conservation (the agency pushing for goose extermination) and the Department of Health to hold closed meetings to avoid this occurrence in the future. The Coalition suspects that criteria and protocols have emerged from these meetings that lower the inspection standards such that the geese killed this year will be deemed "acceptable" for consumption, thus, removing impediments for future programs. Town Supervisor Holbrook went ahead with this plan even though there still exists no evidence that non-lethal methods of goose control had been given an honest chance by the town, no evidence that geese in public parks are a health threat, no information to indicate a steady population growth of geese or any scientific rationale for why it would be useful to remove and kill hundreds of birds from areas they recognize as suitable habitats when thousands of other geese live only a few wing flaps away. As of Friday the 20th, the 170 Canada geese were allegedly being housed in a guarded garage at the Clarkstown dump awaiting transport in cabbage crates to the L&B; Farms slaughterhouse in Sidney Center, Walton, NY.
6/15/97 Clarkstown Town Board Fails to Honor Commitment: OKs Goose Kill The Clarkstown Town Board voted 3-2 Tuesday night (6/10/97) to kill 350 Canada geese under permits that were recently issued to Town Supervisor Holbrook by the NY State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. This suspicious turn of events occurred despite the fact that, little over two weeks ago, the same Town Board voted unanimously to recall the supervisor's unilateral authority on the fate of the geese and make a commitment to the use of non-lethal control measures. Between that time and this recent vote to kill, no actions were taken by the town to implement non-lethal goose control measures. In addition, in a written recommendation presented to the board before the vote, the town Parks and Recreation Department endorsed the use of non-lethal control measures under the guidance of those experienced in their use. Just before the meeting was called to order, one of the board members (an opponent of the killing) told us that the vote was a set-up. Before voting, the board heard public comments from about 36 people. A long-time political insider noted that most of the people speaking in favor of killing the geese were in fact town employees or relatives of town employees. Indeed, the entire anti-goose contingent appeared to be spearheaded by the mother of the town's financial officer (well-known for her hatred of geese and unprofessional and anti-social behavior).
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