Rick
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom Watson" <onefish2fish_at_attbi.com>
To: <nanfa_at_aquaria.net>
Sent: Saturday, April 19, 2003 12:12 AM
Subject: Re: NANFA-- two local goose stories
> This is a serious problem in the Seattle (WA) area. These are resident
> geese and ducks, not migraters. Canada Geese and mallards used to migrate
> through our area. Now many have become resident because there are no
> predators.
>
> It is legal to shoot these guys during hunting season in hunting areas.
> There are no legal hunting areas where these birds congregate.
>
> It is now illegal to feed waterfowl in King county Washington. If they
were
> forced to find their own feed, they would move on. This prohibition is
not
> enforced or respected because many people feel that feeding the birds is
> their "contact with nature". I challenged a friend who manages a county
> park and he said "this is as close as some children will ever come to
> wildlife."
>
> The birds congregate in parks and other places where there is enough "free
> food" and "turnover" in visitors that the birds destruction might be
> challenged by someone.
>
> The situation described in the article is rare. The birds only pose a
> threat to the very young and the infirm. The real problem is pollution.
I
> mean poop pollution. They are big and they poop big. To humans the
effect
> is "swimmers itch". To the rest of the ecosystem (mostly fishy type
> swimmers) it's just plain poison. In an natural environment they would
face
> predators. Here they can poop on anything.
>
> For the last 4 years, the county has had a program to reduce the
population
> of geese. Because of intervention of animal rights advocates, the birds
> cannot be killed. Instead they are transported to Montana. I don't know
> what the Montanans do with them (can you guess?).
>
> Most people feed these guys with bread. The primary ingredient of bread
is
> grain. A grain fed goose or duck can taste pretty good. I say sell
permits
> to harvest these pests. Fills the coffers and the belly.
>
> Tom
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <IndyEsox_at_aol.com>
> To: <nanfa_at_aquaria.net>
> Sent: Friday, April 18, 2003 3:37 PM
> Subject: NANFA-- two local goose stories
>
>
> > <A
> HREF="http://www.indystar.com/print/articles/3/036781-2103-103.html">Pair
> > of geese attack disabled man near nest</A>
> > http://www.indystar.com/print/articles/3/036781-2103-103.html
> >
> >
> > A disabled Plainfield man was attacked by two Canada geese outside a
> > Northwestside department store in the latest conflict between people and
> the
> > growing number of the aggressive birds settling in at local ponds.
> >
> > The geese have become so prolific that the state Department of Natural
> > Resources has almost exhausted the 1,300 nest-destruction permits it can
> > issue this year.
> >
> > (see above link for the rest of the story.)
> >
> > <A
HREF="http://www.indystar.com/print/articles/3/036798-2943-009.html">2
> > won't be charged in attack on goose eggs and nests</A>
> > http://www.indystar.com/print/articles/3/036798-2943-009.html
> >
> >
> > A woman suspected of destroying goose eggs and nests -- and another
woman
> who
> > was with her -- will not face charges but will receive warnings, a state
> > conservation officer said Thursday.
> >
> > (see above link for the rest of the story).
> --
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-- > /"Unless stated otherwise, comments made on this list do not necessarily > / reflect the beliefs or goals of the North American Native Fishes > / Association" > / This is the discussion list of the North American Native Fishes Association > / nanfa_at_aquaria.net. To subscribe, unsubscribe, or get help, send the word > / subscribe, unsubscribe, or help in the body (not subject) of an email to > / nanfa-request_at_aquaria.net. For a digest version, send the command to > / nanfa-digest-request_at_aquaria.net instead. > / For more information about NANFA, visit our web page, http://www.nanfa.org /----------------------------------------------------------------------------- /"Unless stated otherwise, comments made on this list do not necessarily / reflect the beliefs or goals of the North American Native Fishes / Association" / This is the discussion list of the North American Native Fishes Association / nanfa_at_aquaria.net. To subscribe, unsubscribe, or get help, send the word / subscribe, unsubscribe, or help in the body (not subject) of an email to / nanfa-request_at_aquaria.net. For a digest version, send the command to / nanfa-digest-request_at_aquaria.net instead. / For more information about NANFA, visit our web page, http://www.nanfa.org