Save the Milford geese from being relocated and killed!
The Issue
The Canada goose has long been a staple in Milford and now its existence in Milford is in not only in danger but the Village Council is fine with the geese being killed!
According to a recent article by Lara Colvin, published in Home Town Life, the Village of Milford has hired Goose Busters of Holly to remove the geese from Central Park by destroying their nests and later relocating them. This is against DNR regulations because no other measures to control the situation have been attempted. There are talks of trying more humane options (riparian buffers and no-mow zones) but those are just talks for the future and Goose Busters already has a contract. The DNR clearly states “Canada geese are an important natural resource and are federally protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act” and “Killing geese outside of the established hunting season and disturbing nests with goose eggs present can be done only under special permit, which can be applied for only when other techniques have been unsuccessful” (State of Michigan, 2015).
In a recent meeting Milford Village Council members approved to round up the geese in Central Park and have them removed where their fate is uncertain and they will be split up and even be killed. There are talks about several options to control the goose population and most of them are humane and should be done first, such as riparian buffers and no-mow zones. The problem is the method agreed on with the owner of Goose Busters. According to Colvin (2015) “Goose Busters owner Chris Compton said nest destruction will occur in April, followed by a round-up in June when the geese are molting and therefore flightless”. That is inhuman and a disgrace for the Village of Milford. It should also be mentioned that many Milford residents enjoy the geese and view them as a staple of the town. Milford had been voted one of the best places to live but soon it will end up on the CANADA GOOSE HALL OF SHAME.
The Milford Village Council is fully aware that the geese may end up killed and is fine with that. The published minutes can be found online at http://milfordvillagemi.minutesondemand.com. The goose resolution agenda is found on page 20 of the minutes from February 2, 2015 and states in the fourth paragraph that “the Village of Milford clearly understands that any bird removed and relocated during this program may be killed, NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED the Council for the Village of Milford is in support of conducting a goose round up along the Huron River in Milford to collect and relocate the geese away from the Huron River” (Village of Milford, 2015, p. 20).
These geese have been a part of Milford for many years and are even portrait in the metal statue on Main Street. Why not give the other plans of controlling the situation a chance before destroying nests and tearing families apart as the Canada Goose mates for life. The DNR even points out that this is not the solution “The translocation program has limited success in reducing the number of nuisance complaints. While it does provide lakefront owners temporary relief, the same or different birds move back into the area within a short time” (State of Michigan, 2015).
This is a video from 2010 showing Goose Busters at work at Lake Neva in White Lake. The video can be found on YouTube along with many other’s covering goose round ups. Please take a few minutes and watch what Milford has planed for this summer. Direct link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a35p6dtn3FM&feature=youtu.be
Please take a stand and protect the innocent geese of Milford from this horrible fate and share this petition with your friends and neighbors.
References
Photo Credit: Heather Reynolds
Colvin, L. (2015, 02 10). Council wants additional measures to control geese. Retrieved from hometownlife: http://www.hometownlife.com/story/news/local/milford/2015/02/10/village-passes-goose-resolution/23161351/
Love Canada Geese. (2014). CANADA GOOSE HALL OF SHAME. Retrieved from CANADA GOOSE HALL OF SHAME: http://www.hallofshame.lovecanadageese.com/
State of Michigan. (2015). Canada Geese. Retrieved from Michigan Department of Natural Resources: http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-10370_12145_25065-59467--,00.html
Village of Milford. (2015, 02 05). Village of Milford Resolution NO 14-010. Retrieved from Village of Milford, Village Council Agenda Packet February 2, 2015: http://milfordvillagemi.minutesondemand.com/Document/3d5b8f47-9aa8-e411-b821-001fbc00ed84/Village%20Council%20Agenda%20Packet%20February%2002,%202015.pdf
The Issue
The Canada goose has long been a staple in Milford and now its existence in Milford is in not only in danger but the Village Council is fine with the geese being killed!
According to a recent article by Lara Colvin, published in Home Town Life, the Village of Milford has hired Goose Busters of Holly to remove the geese from Central Park by destroying their nests and later relocating them. This is against DNR regulations because no other measures to control the situation have been attempted. There are talks of trying more humane options (riparian buffers and no-mow zones) but those are just talks for the future and Goose Busters already has a contract. The DNR clearly states “Canada geese are an important natural resource and are federally protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act” and “Killing geese outside of the established hunting season and disturbing nests with goose eggs present can be done only under special permit, which can be applied for only when other techniques have been unsuccessful” (State of Michigan, 2015).
In a recent meeting Milford Village Council members approved to round up the geese in Central Park and have them removed where their fate is uncertain and they will be split up and even be killed. There are talks about several options to control the goose population and most of them are humane and should be done first, such as riparian buffers and no-mow zones. The problem is the method agreed on with the owner of Goose Busters. According to Colvin (2015) “Goose Busters owner Chris Compton said nest destruction will occur in April, followed by a round-up in June when the geese are molting and therefore flightless”. That is inhuman and a disgrace for the Village of Milford. It should also be mentioned that many Milford residents enjoy the geese and view them as a staple of the town. Milford had been voted one of the best places to live but soon it will end up on the CANADA GOOSE HALL OF SHAME.
The Milford Village Council is fully aware that the geese may end up killed and is fine with that. The published minutes can be found online at http://milfordvillagemi.minutesondemand.com. The goose resolution agenda is found on page 20 of the minutes from February 2, 2015 and states in the fourth paragraph that “the Village of Milford clearly understands that any bird removed and relocated during this program may be killed, NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED the Council for the Village of Milford is in support of conducting a goose round up along the Huron River in Milford to collect and relocate the geese away from the Huron River” (Village of Milford, 2015, p. 20).
These geese have been a part of Milford for many years and are even portrait in the metal statue on Main Street. Why not give the other plans of controlling the situation a chance before destroying nests and tearing families apart as the Canada Goose mates for life. The DNR even points out that this is not the solution “The translocation program has limited success in reducing the number of nuisance complaints. While it does provide lakefront owners temporary relief, the same or different birds move back into the area within a short time” (State of Michigan, 2015).
This is a video from 2010 showing Goose Busters at work at Lake Neva in White Lake. The video can be found on YouTube along with many other’s covering goose round ups. Please take a few minutes and watch what Milford has planed for this summer. Direct link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a35p6dtn3FM&feature=youtu.be
Please take a stand and protect the innocent geese of Milford from this horrible fate and share this petition with your friends and neighbors.
References
Photo Credit: Heather Reynolds
Colvin, L. (2015, 02 10). Council wants additional measures to control geese. Retrieved from hometownlife: http://www.hometownlife.com/story/news/local/milford/2015/02/10/village-passes-goose-resolution/23161351/
Love Canada Geese. (2014). CANADA GOOSE HALL OF SHAME. Retrieved from CANADA GOOSE HALL OF SHAME: http://www.hallofshame.lovecanadageese.com/
State of Michigan. (2015). Canada Geese. Retrieved from Michigan Department of Natural Resources: http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-10370_12145_25065-59467--,00.html
Village of Milford. (2015, 02 05). Village of Milford Resolution NO 14-010. Retrieved from Village of Milford, Village Council Agenda Packet February 2, 2015: http://milfordvillagemi.minutesondemand.com/Document/3d5b8f47-9aa8-e411-b821-001fbc00ed84/Village%20Council%20Agenda%20Packet%20February%2002,%202015.pdf
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Petition created on February 10, 2015