Feds Aim To Give States Flexibility To Manage Canadian Geese
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed providing state wildlife agencies more flexibility in controlling resident Canada goose populations. Under its proposal, the federal agency would hand over much of the day to day management responsibility to states while maintaining primary authority to manage these populations.
Presently, state wildlife agencies need a federal permit issued by the Fish and Wildlife Service to control resident Canada geese. This rule would provide for opportunities to eliminate the need for most individual permits for resident Canada goose control activities.
“Since this bird’s population is increasing and they have been shown to cause local impacts to natural and economic resources, we believe local management with national oversight is the best approach to reduce conflicts,” said Fish and Wildlife Service Director Steve Williams.
The federal agency estimated the current resident Canada goose spring population at 3.2 million in the United States, about 30 percent to 35 percent above the number states believe to be acceptable based on their need to manage conflicts and problems caused by excessive numbers of resident Canada geese.
The rapid rise of resident Canada goose populations has been attributed to a number of factors, in particular stable breeding habitat conditions and low numbers of predators.
Overabundant populations of resident Canada geese can affect or damage several types of resources, including property, agriculture, and natural resources, the Fish and Wildlife Service says.
The proposed rule would authorize population control strategies such as aggressive harassment, nest destruction, gosling and adult trapping and culling programs, increased hunter harvest, or other general population reduction strategies.
The rule will also offer guidelines for other activities such as special take authorization during a portion of the closed hunting season; control for the protection of airport safety, agriculture, and public health; and the take of nests and eggs without permits.
Resident Canada goose populations will be monitored annually by the states and the Fish and Wildlife Service under the proposed rule. The estimated take of birds must be provided by participating states.
Provided by theEnvironmental News Service.
