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PROOF POSITIVE: Michigan DNR Baiting Geese 6/3/97 Letters are requested to oppose the legalization of baited fields. This would allow the State of Michigan to continue to operate baited fields to attract and feed geese for hunters without being liable to prosecution by the federal government. (In addition to baiting, common practice is to put out protected nesting sites for geese and steel jaw traps to kill predators). Here are email addresses (I include a cc to my own address. If the recipients hit the trash button there will be a public record submitted in hard copy.) TO:
john_rogers@fws.gov CC each message to the Coalition Coordinator: fan46@execpc.com
Letter from the Coalition's National Coordinator
John Rogers Dear Mr. Rogers: (cc above) Recently citizens in Michigan have petitioned the Michigan Natural Resources Commission to halt the proposed mass slaughter and relocation of Canada Geese in their communities. One of the assertions made by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is that there are "too many geese" and therefore they must be killed. Notwithstanding the subjectivity of "too many", the answer is found on the Michigan web page in which they admit that part of their work is to increase the population of Canada Geese to be living targets for hunters, thereby providing revenues for the Michigan DNR http://www.dnr.state.mi.us/www/mp96/wl.html. Now recently we have been made aware of the proposal of the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies to not consider their baiting of Canada Geese and other waterfowl as violations of law http://dnr. state.il.us/baiting/default.htm and http://dnr.state.il.us/baiting/final.htm. Although I am not aware of any recent prosecutions of K.L. Cool (Director, Michigan DNR) or Brent Manning, Secretary of the Illinois DNR and Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee on Baiting or George Meyer, Secretary of the Wisconsin DNR, and Vice Chair of the Committee on Baiting, they are now in fear of perpetual prosecution because of their extensive baited fields in their respective states. I note that Roger Holmes Minnesota DNR is the Chair-Executive of this baiting body. Under Holmes leadership, University of Minnesota Master Goose Killer James Cooper just last year rounded up and killed 1,847 Canada Geese because there were "too many!" Just the composition of this body makes me suspicious that there is something unpalatable about these recommendations. The present regulations exempt bona fide agricultural fields from consideration as baited fields. However, Meyer, Manning and Holmes want us to change "bona fide" to "accepted" agricultural fields (that is "accepted" by the DNR and US Fish and Wildlife Service) in order to continue the breeding of the geese. The Coalition to Protect Canada Geese has maintained that if there are too many geese, the DNRs should stop enhancing population growth as a first line of defense from these birds who are said to be pooping in the wrong places. We request an Environmental Impact Statement on this action and full public disclosures. Citizens who have suffered from the slaughter of their geese want a full and public confession that in fact the DNR is the source of the very problem the DNR seeks to correct. Under 5 USC 552, the Freedom of Information Act, I request a copy of the report and all supporting documents, including the names of all task force members and any information about them from the public record. Sincerely, Ann Frisch, Ph.D.
Say "NO" To Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) 4/15/97 Today begins a three week protest of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources plan to kill three thousand Canada Geese and distribute their bodies to local charities. In addition, the Michigan DNR plans to capture and relocate another three thousand geese to hunting areas. Your letter could stop the US Fish and Wildlife Service from issuing a permit. Please respond soon and pass this request along to one other person. Keep in mind that the comments should be directed at the issue, not at the DNR itself. Otherwise it may be discounted. Please join us in saying "NO" to Michigan's brutality to the Canada goose (summary below). You can make your voice heard in a short email letter (addresses below) to George Burgoyne, DNR Chief, Wildlife Division, Michigan DNR; and to Steve Wilds, Chief, Division of Migratory Birds, Region 3 USFWS; and to Paul Schmidt, Chief, Office of Migratory Bird Management, USFWS. If you are faxing or telephoning and can only do one, send it to the Michigan DNR. The fourth email address is to the Coalition National Coordinator. We are keeping a record of all emails and unless we have assurance that all emails are being put into the public record, we will provide a paper copy of your email to the DNR and USFWS authorities. If you are sending email, use the following to direct your message:
George Burgoyne, Wildlife Division Michigan DNR (burgoyng@wildlife.dnr.state.mi.us) If you are sending a fax, please direct it to:
George E. Burgoyne, Jr., Chief You can also send copies to:
Mr. Steve Wilds
Paul R. Schmidt
Coalition to Protect Canada Geese People wishing to make a statement to the Natural Resources Commission (NRC) at its May 7, 1997 meeting should contact Ms. Teresa Gloden, NRC Secretary at 517 373 2352. Wherever possible, send us a copy of your comments. SUMMARY: 1. The DNR wants to kill 3,000 Canada Geese in urban areas of Michigan and relocate another 3,000 around the state. The orphan goslings (before they learn to fly) are relocated to become "stock" for new populations in hunting lands. 2. The DNR alleges that there are health hazards due to goose feces. There is no known health problem in the scientific literature from goose feces. 3. The real health hazard is feeding Canada Geese to the poor. Dr. Warren Porter, University of Wisconsin Professor of Environmental Toxicology, has said that this is not a good idea because of potentially high body burden of toxic chemicals in some Canada Geese from consuming our toxic laden golf course grass and feeding from our industrial sites. The consumption of Canada Geese could result in neurological, reproductive and developmental effects, cancer and unknown effects in human fetuses. 4. The DNR says they want to kill the geese because 11 people were attacked by nesting geese. Everyone knows you do not bother a mother protecting her nest. 5. The DNR says they want to stop air traffic accidents due to Canada Geese. All safety problems at airports can be taken care of without this goose kill. 6. The DNR has not done anything of any consequence to assist people who do not want geese on their property although many measures are available (modification of the environment, hazing early before the geese lay their eggs, kites, plastic alligators in ponds, etc.) However, the Michigan DNR has relocated 43,000 geese since the 1970s - something they admit may have contributed to the present situation of large numbers of Canada Geese in urban areas. MORE DETAILS AND A COPY OF THE MICHIGAN PLAN (5 PP) ARE AVAILABLE BY CONTACTING OUR NATIONAL COORDINATOR
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