Feds propose looser rules on goose kills

Change would allow states to remove birds without permit

MICHAEL BURNHAM, THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published Thursday, March 14, 2002

OLYMPIA -- The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is proposing a new regulation that would enable state wildlife agencies to aggressively manage resident Canada geese.

The geese can cause property damage and pose threats to public health and safety.

Federal Fish & Wildlife would grant states the authority to reduce resident Canada geese through increased hunting and population-control strategies, according to an environmental impact statement released last week.

Flexibility

The U.S. Department of Agriculture and state Department of General Administration, which have worked together to kill resident geese or annoy them so they'll move elsewhere, would have greater flexibility to deal with local geese problems.

Resident Canada geese are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and can only legally be taken during a hunting season -- unless a special federal permit is obtained from U.S. Fish & Wildlife.

"Any sort of injury or death of the birds has to be authorized by us," said U.S. Fish & Wildlife spokesman Chris Tollefson.

The new policy would give states blanket authority to remove geese without repeated application for federal permits, Tollefson said. However, goose removal tactics would still be subject to federal standards.

Sanctioned strategies include trapping, killing and nest and egg destruction.

"It's been very difficult to respond," Tollefson said. "Our permit folks have been basically overwhelmed by requests."

The proposed policy would also allow the state to provide expanded hunting not afforded by U.S. Fish & Wildlife's Canada goose permit.

States could allow goose hunting outside the normal hunting season, which runs from Sept. 1 to March 10.

The new policy could allow Washington hunters to take resident geese in August, said Don Kraege, a state Department of Fish & Wildlife waterfowl manager.

Public comment

U.S. Fish & Wildlife officials will take public comment on the environmental impact statement until May 30.

Public hearings on the proposal are set for April and May, although dates and locations have not yet been set, Tollefson said. A final proposal could be completed by fall.

There are 3.5 million resident Canada geese in the United States, Fish & Wildlife officials estimate.

There are 20,000 to 25,000 resident Canada geese in Western Washington, the state estimates.

The Thurston County resident Canada goose population increased from 1,900 to 2,600 in 1998, according to an Audubon Society count.

"Thirty or 40 years ago, we really didn't have a resident goose population," Kraege said. "There wasn't a lot of habitat for the geese."

That changed as Puget Sound's forested areas gave way to more people, parks, golf courses and open spaces -- ideal nesting sites for Canada geese.

In 1999, General Administration began addressing human-goose conflicts in Capitol Lake's Heritage and Marathon parks. Both had been overrun with geese.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture removed 486 geese from the lake basin in 2000 and an additional 393 geese in 2001.

It's unclear whether any birds will be removed from Capitol Lake this May and June, when the geese molt and are unable to fly, said GA facilities planner Dave Schilperoort, who manages the Capital Lake basin.

"It all kind of depends on how many geese show up," Schilperoort said.

"If we get a really low turnout, we'll be pleased to not have to remove them."

Both the USDA and state Fish & Wildlife have set the county's target resident Canada goose population at 750 birds, with 100 birds at Capitol Lake.

To comment

Written comments on a proposal to give states more authority to manage Canada geese should be addressed to the Division of Migratory Bird Management, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, Mail Stop 634 ARLSQ, 1849 C St. N.W., Washington, DC 20240.

Copies of the draft proposal are available at the same address or by calling 703-358-1714. Fish & Wildlife will schedule public meetings later this year.

On the Web:

- Migratory Bird Treaty Act

- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

- Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife

The Olympian Copyright 2002

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