March 3, 2007
ACTION ALERT: PLEASE CONTACT THE PEOPLE LISTED BELOW THIS ARTICLE TO STATE YOUR OPPOSITION TO THE ROUND-UP AND SLAUGHTER OF INNOCENT GEESE WHEN HUMANE METHODS OF POPULATION CONTROL ARE EFFECTIVE. PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR A LIST OF HUMANE METHODS.
Wednesday, Feb 28, 2007 - 01:20 AM
SALTVILLE – A summer goose roundup – aimed at thinning the numbers and feeding the hungry – was recently approved by the Town Council.
Todd Puckett, a wildlife biologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, told council members that during June or July, geese become flightless for two to three weeks as they molt. This is when their old feathers are replaced with new ones.
Grounded and water-bound, the geese can be corralled much like cattle or sheep, he said.
If the geese are on the water, an agriculture department crew can drive them onto land, where they are encircled and herded toward a portable pen.
"They try to do it early, before it gets too hot," Puckett said.
The captured geese will be transported to a "processor," he said, and then the meat is distributed to a food bank.
The population of Canada geese has caused problems for the town in recent years. The droppings have spoiled the town’s golf course, as well as other public areas.
In the past, dogs were used to frighten away the birds, but the relief was only temporary.
The town also sponsored a controversial hunt to thin the goose population, but it brought negative national attention and protests from animal rights activists.
Saltville officials hope the roundup will be less controversial than the hunt two years ago. But it has already drawn fire from activists, including the Humane Society of the United States and the Coalition to Prevent the Destruction of Canada Geese.
DAN KEGLEY writes for the Smyth County News & Messenger.
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PLEASE WRITE TO THE PEOPLE LISTED BELOW TO STATE YOUR OPPOSITION TO THEIR CRUEL PLAN. SUGGEST HUMANE GEESE POPULATION CONTROL PLANS THAT WORK. CLICK HERE FOR THE LIST. PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR EXAMPLES OF LETTERS WRITTEN TO ANOTHER CITY IN RESPONSE TO A ROUNDUP AND SLAUGHTER:
Saltville Mayor
Jeffrey L. Campbell jcampbell@saltville.org
Saltville Town Council
E. Craig Barbrowebarbrow@saltville.org
Sabrena Isonsison@saltville.org
Daniel Maidendmaiden@saltville.org
Neil Johnsonnjohnson@saltville.org
Ronald S. Orrrorr@saltville.org
Todd Youngtyoung@saltville.org
Reporter: Dan Kegley - DKegley@wythenews.com
Thank you very much for speaking on behalf of Canada geese!