re: Man has 103 box turtles seized by LW&F

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I hear rumors.. just rumors of a band of teenage boys conducting covert sweep and clear missions on said geese... again just rumors..

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yeah.. even had decoys set up in the park by our house one day...

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Can you expand on this re: the geese? I am confused a bit.

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I am assuming you are confused by why I won't obtain permits for LDWF to do nuisance Canada goose work.

For LDWF to do nuisance Canada goose work, we must have a scientifically-defensible population survey, estimate/request how many birds we will directly and in-directly impact, estimate/request how many nests and eggs we will directly and in-directly impact, receive training and use only established control methods, document all control efforts including number of adults, young, eggs, and nests impacted, assess impact on population size, and maintain an outreach program for educating/informing the public on Canada goose control measures.

Forget it! I don't have the resources (time, manpower, or money) to do all that, especially for a species like resident Giant Canada geese that are at the largest population levels in history and still increasing. You talk about having NO conservation relevance!

At this point, I have an out. Wildlife Services of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (not USFWS) is the old Animal Damage Control group. They don't have such stringent permitting requirements and have migratory bird responsibilities. So I let them handle it ...... until I'm told differently.

You see, wildlife regulations ARE NOT only about biology and conservation. And when you work for the people, as directed by their elected representatives and appointees, you are often required to do things that do not have population-level conservation implications. Nuisance Canada geese, game breeders permits, and shooting preserves are 3 such things for me. Just like people keeping too many box turtles are for some of my co-workers.

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He can't pass as a kid anymore, regardless of his age...

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Yeah.. last night before they played Catholic's freshmen - he walked right by a guy that coached him a couple of years ago.... he didn't recognize him..... he should pass me up by the end of the summer... went from 5-9 to 6 foot in no time...I was the size he is now in my jr year....

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I hear rumors.. just rumors of a band of teenage boys conducting covert sweep and clear missions on said geese... again just rumors...

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I suspect that happens a lot .......

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I hear rumors.. just rumors of a band of teenage boys conducting covert sweep and clear missions on said geese... again just rumors...


I suspect that happens a lot .......

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they ruined a pond they were fishing.. it's pretty shallow and a bunch of em nested there.. and crapped so much it messed up the water real bad...

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And when you work for the people, as directed by their elected representatives and appointees, you are often required to do things that do not have population-level conservation implications


So did you choose your profession before or after you realized that you'd essentially be a puppet?

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if you have read ANYTHING he has said on various forums.... and talked to him in person... you would realize he absolutely LOVES what he does and happens to be one of the best in the business at WHAT he does....

and actually IS a hunter.. and GIVES A REAL shite ABOUT HUNTERS.. and their opportunities...

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if you have read ANYTHING he has said on various forums.... and talked to him in person... you would realize he absolutely LOVES what he does and happens to be one of the best in the business at WHAT he does.... and actually IS a hunter.. and GIVES A REAL shite ABOUT HUNTERS.. and their opportunities...

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X9999999999999999999

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So did you choose your profession before or after you realized that you'd essentially be a puppet?

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The vast majority of people I serve are reasonable, and very little of my time is spent on things irrelevant to conservation or hunting opportunity. The same is true for the LDWF people dealing with this particular box-turtle issue.

I'm not as idealistic now as when I chose this profession in 1983. I've finally accepted that even if I do my job as objectively, responsibly, and competently as possible, I still have bosses that may not follow my recommendations and may direct me to do something different. But even in a Louisiana state agency, that has been rare.

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For LDWF to do nuisance Canada goose work, we must have a scientifically-defensible population survey, estimate/request how many birds we will directly and in-directly impact, estimate/request how many nests and eggs we will directly and in-directly impact, receive training and use only established control methods, document all control efforts including number of adults, young, eggs, and nests impacted, assess impact on population size, and maintain an outreach program for educating/informing the public on Canada goose control measures.

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Yeah, that's a bunch of crap.