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

quote:

---

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

---

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.