BELLA VISTA, ARKANSAS
By Anna Fry
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service extended a permit to allow the association to kill vultures and also to allow the culling of 100 geese from an estimated population of 1,000 in Bella Vista. The association's board of directors voted 6-2 at a meeting Thursday to use the permit.
The geese are a problem because they leave feces wherever they congregate, said Darrell Bowman, the lake ecology and fisheries manager. Canada geese overpopulation is a problem nationwide, Bowman said. They're federally protected, which is why the permit is necessary.
Geese like mowed grass next to water, so they like golf courses and parks, Bowman said.
"The geese are occupying the very same habitats that we want to recreate in," Bowman said.
Director Jan Keirsey said the geese are on every lake, every pond and every golf course.
"In my yard alone, I've counted as many as 60 at a time," said Keirsey, who voted to use the permit.
But some directors acknowledged they've heard from residents upset with the idea of killing geese. Bella Vista resident Ernest Hodges contacted the association to voice opposition to its plan.
"To me, it's just downright wrong," he said. "It's a slaughter. There's no need for it."
The association obtained the permit for killing vultures because they were damaging boats.
Bella Vista's seven lakes are all designated as "primary contact water," meaning swimming is allowed everywhere. The designation requires meeting state standards about the amount of fecal bacteria in the water.
Routine testing shows the state standard is sometimes being violated because of the large amount of goose feces, Bowman said. If people ingest water with high levels of fecal bacteria, they risk being sickened by Escherichia coli, he said.
He told board members in February that they either needed to control the geese population or tell residents they are swimming at their own risk.
Bowman said he still needs to clarify details about how to use the permit. The association requested permission to use other methods to decrease the goose population, such as addling, but the permit only refers to shooting. Addling involves shaking goose eggs to kill offspring.
The association planned to use a charity such as Arkansas Hunters Feeding the Hungry and donate the killed geese for use as meat, General Manager Tommy Bailey previously said. But, the permit's conditions stipulate the association must turn over the geese to the U.S. Department of Agriculture or a public educational or scientific institution.
Also, the association needs to work out the logistics and timing of the culling, Bowman said.
The association's golf division has tried other methods in the past to control the geese, including chasing them with dogs and discouraging residents from feeding the geese, Communications Manager Christy Attlesey said.
The city passed an ordinance in May prohibiting the feeding of any migratory waterfowl.
Director Anita Werts, who voted against using the permit, said the board hasn't exhausted its options.
"We as human beings, when things inconvenience or nuisance us, we tend to just eliminate it," she said.
Werts hopes there's enough of an outcry that the board is forced to try another option, she said. Many other communities have geese problems and some use a bullhorn noise to scare them off, she said.
Association officials discussed how to handle public response to the culling of geese in a communications committee meeting on Monday morning. Director Bill Williams, who voted against using the permit, said groups are preparing to protest and asked how the committee wanted to combat negative perceptions.
"I'm telling you, the world out there is really fixing to turn things into an ugly state," Williams said.
Director Stewart Smith, who voted to use the permit, said a loud, small minority is in opposition. The committee agreed it needs to inform the public of the reasons for killing the geese.
Keirsey cited the nuisance on golf courses and E. coli in lakes as reasons.
"Even though it may not be a health hazard, there certainly is room to maybe reduce and not encourage the population," Keirsey said.
"I'm sure that to some people it's a very emotional issue," she said. "I don't think anybody wants to be responsible for the demise of any living creature."
The city has ordinances that prohibit firing guns and hunting within city limits.
Mayor Frank Anderson said he thinks the city would grant the association a waiver because it followed a federal permitting process.
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Backlash May Come With Geese Culling
Association Must Explain Need, Committee Says
Last updated Monday, June 23, 2008 7:42 PM CDT in NewsBy Anna Fry
THE MORNING NEWS
BELLA VISTA -- The Bella Vista Property Owners Association killed 11 vultures last year without residents' protest, but the association expects some backlash when it follows through with a plan to kill Canada geese that are fouling its lakes and golf courses.The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service extended a permit to allow the association to kill vultures and also to allow the culling of 100 geese from an estimated population of 1,000 in Bella Vista. The association's board of directors voted 6-2 at a meeting Thursday to use the permit.
The geese are a problem because they leave feces wherever they congregate, said Darrell Bowman, the lake ecology and fisheries manager. Canada geese overpopulation is a problem nationwide, Bowman said. They're federally protected, which is why the permit is necessary.
Geese like mowed grass next to water, so they like golf courses and parks, Bowman said.
"The geese are occupying the very same habitats that we want to recreate in," Bowman said.
Director Jan Keirsey said the geese are on every lake, every pond and every golf course.
"In my yard alone, I've counted as many as 60 at a time," said Keirsey, who voted to use the permit.
But some directors acknowledged they've heard from residents upset with the idea of killing geese. Bella Vista resident Ernest Hodges contacted the association to voice opposition to its plan.
"To me, it's just downright wrong," he said. "It's a slaughter. There's no need for it."
The association obtained the permit for killing vultures because they were damaging boats.
Bella Vista's seven lakes are all designated as "primary contact water," meaning swimming is allowed everywhere. The designation requires meeting state standards about the amount of fecal bacteria in the water.
Routine testing shows the state standard is sometimes being violated because of the large amount of goose feces, Bowman said. If people ingest water with high levels of fecal bacteria, they risk being sickened by Escherichia coli, he said.
He told board members in February that they either needed to control the geese population or tell residents they are swimming at their own risk.
Bowman said he still needs to clarify details about how to use the permit. The association requested permission to use other methods to decrease the goose population, such as addling, but the permit only refers to shooting. Addling involves shaking goose eggs to kill offspring.
The association planned to use a charity such as Arkansas Hunters Feeding the Hungry and donate the killed geese for use as meat, General Manager Tommy Bailey previously said. But, the permit's conditions stipulate the association must turn over the geese to the U.S. Department of Agriculture or a public educational or scientific institution.
Also, the association needs to work out the logistics and timing of the culling, Bowman said.
The association's golf division has tried other methods in the past to control the geese, including chasing them with dogs and discouraging residents from feeding the geese, Communications Manager Christy Attlesey said.
The city passed an ordinance in May prohibiting the feeding of any migratory waterfowl.
Director Anita Werts, who voted against using the permit, said the board hasn't exhausted its options.
"We as human beings, when things inconvenience or nuisance us, we tend to just eliminate it," she said.
Werts hopes there's enough of an outcry that the board is forced to try another option, she said. Many other communities have geese problems and some use a bullhorn noise to scare them off, she said.
Association officials discussed how to handle public response to the culling of geese in a communications committee meeting on Monday morning. Director Bill Williams, who voted against using the permit, said groups are preparing to protest and asked how the committee wanted to combat negative perceptions.
"I'm telling you, the world out there is really fixing to turn things into an ugly state," Williams said.
Director Stewart Smith, who voted to use the permit, said a loud, small minority is in opposition. The committee agreed it needs to inform the public of the reasons for killing the geese.
Keirsey cited the nuisance on golf courses and E. coli in lakes as reasons.
"Even though it may not be a health hazard, there certainly is room to maybe reduce and not encourage the population," Keirsey said.
"I'm sure that to some people it's a very emotional issue," she said. "I don't think anybody wants to be responsible for the demise of any living creature."
The city has ordinances that prohibit firing guns and hunting within city limits.
Mayor Frank Anderson said he thinks the city would grant the association a waiver because it followed a federal permitting process.
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Please contact the Board members of the Property Owners Association to voice your opposition to the proposed cull and suggest humane methods:
Roberta Dale - Chairman of the POA
gregrobertadale@cox.net
George DeGroot (POA Board Member)
geoloudeg@cox.net
Bill Johnson (Board Member)
awmjjohnson@cox.net
Jan Keirsey (Director)
kjkeirsey@cox.net
Andy O'Neil (Board member)
andynjoyce@cox.net
Stewart Smith (Board member)
stewartandterry@cox.net
Anita Werts - Vice Chairman
anitajune44@sbcglobal.net
Bill Williams (board member)
poa@iabv.com
Tom Wooters (board member)
nzstvh1737@sbcglobal.net
We thank you for taking the time to help save our feathered friends.