Goose euthanasia program receives criticism
LANSING Mich. (WLNS) — A controversial method of population control has those who oppose it demanding, 'Don't Gas the Geese'.
said the number of geese in some areas of the state is out of control. So to help, it will euthanize flocks by gassing them. People urged officials to rethink this on Thursday at a DNR Natural Resource Commission meeting.
A leader for the group In Defense of Animals said they designed a billboard reading 'Tell Governor Whitmer Don't Gas Geese'. The leader said that the sign was strategically put up on I-96 ahead of the meeting to spread awareness. The DNR said killing the birds is always the last option but sometimes has to be done. During public comment, Karen Stamper shared her concerns.
'Which is it? public health or just convenient justification.' Stamper continued, 'I mean there are so many things that are wrong with this.'
The program has always offered multiple methods of population control like hunting, scare devices, dogs, fences, and egg and nest destruction. In the past, there was also an option to round up geese and relocate them. Barbara Avers with the DNR explained why they are taking that option away.
'We've found that relocating is really unsustainable and we were quite frankly just running out of suitable places to put them,' said Avers.
Then came the , which officials said only made matters more serious. So the decision was made to euthanize geese rather than relocate.
'We didn't want to have this increased risk of moving Canada geese around the state and potentially increasing that transmission of the virus,' said Avers.
The method will be used between June and July and involves carbon dioxide. Officials stress that getting a permit to gas geese is a last resort after they've exhausted all other options unless there is a health or safety situation.
'This isn't a program that's just open to anybody,' said Avers.
Karen Stamper worries that putting these geese down will happen without officials checking to confirm that permit applications are truthful and that criteria are actually met.
'They better check and see if there are deterrents. cause if there's no deterrents, they shouldn't do it.' Stamper continued, 'And if they're going to deter the geese they need to do two or three methods they can't just do one, do it for a day and say I tried. That's what a lot of them do.'
Stamper said she saw geese get gassed last summer and that it's not as humane as one may think.
'Geese can hold their breath for quite a long time. and they'll panic and will stay alive for up to 45 minutes in those chambers,' Stamper said.
The DNR said that this method is approved by the . it added that federal hunting regulations don't allow for a bigger goose hunting season. The DNR also said it has plans to donate the meat from the geese killed to charitable organizations. Officials said that aspect is not ready for 2025 though.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Yahoo
Inter/Arch Jobs Celebrates Pride Month 2025 with Continued Commitment to LGBTQIA+ Visibility in the Built Environment
SHERIDAN, Wyo., June 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As Pride Month 2025 begins, Inter/Arch Jobs, the global job board and community for the built environment, proudly reaffirms its commitment to championing LGBTQIA+ inclusion—not just in June, but every day of the year. Founded and led by Richard Eib, Inter/Arch Jobs stands as a beacon for equity and visibility across architecture, interior design, engineering, project management, landscape architecture, and all built environment professions. This Pride Month, the platform is going a step further by announcing the launch of a dedicated LGBTQIA+ Networking Group designed specifically for professionals in the built environment. "We don't just celebrate Pride in June—we live it through our mission and our partnerships every single day," said Richard Eib, Managing Director of Inter/Arch Jobs. "As a gay-owned business, we understand how crucial it is for LGBTQIA+ individuals to feel seen, supported, and connected in industries that have historically lacked inclusive representation. This new networking group will offer a safe, empowering space for professionals to share experiences, build community, and thrive." Built With Pride, the new networking initiative will officially launch later this month and aims to create an inclusive, global hub where LGBTQIA+ voices in the built environment can connect, collaborate, and advocate for meaningful change. Inter/Arch Jobs invites industry partners, LGBTQIA+ professionals, and allies to join in celebrating Pride Month and supporting the ongoing fight for equality and inclusion. The organization will be hosting a series of features, spotlights, and social campaigns throughout June to uplift LGBTQIA+ voices across the industry. To stay informed and get involved with the upcoming networking group, visit For media inquiries or partnership opportunities, please contact: Richard EibManaging Directorpr@ 213-1335 About Inter/Arch Jobs Inter/Arch Jobs is a global career platform dedicated to connecting professionals across architecture, interior design, and engineering disciplines with leading employers, resources, and community networks in the built environment. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Inter/Arch Jobs LLC Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Yahoo
Ukraine moves closer to joining EU's roaming zone
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed the Law of Ukraine On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine on the Implementation of the European Union's Legislation on Electronic Communications (Reg. No. 12150). Source: European Pravda, citing the website of Verkhovna Rada Details: The National Commission for the State Regulation of Electronic Communications (NCCIR) has reported that with the signing of this law, Ukraine has completed its "homework" on legislative and regulatory approximation to EU roaming law. This creates the necessary conditions for integration into the EU's Digital Single Market in the roaming sector. More details: The next step is to submit the law to the European Commission for an official assessment of its compliance with EU law, NCCIR notes. In case of a positive outcome, the European Commission may initiate a decision on the reciprocal granting of internal market treatment for roaming between the EU and Ukraine, which will effectively mean full accession to the Roam Like At Home policy. Once Ukraine joins this policy, Ukrainians will be able to use roaming services at the price of their home tariff when travelling to EU countries. The tariffs and conditions will not differ depending on the country of destination. Verkhovna Rada adopted Draft Law №12150 in the second reading as part of its efforts to bring Ukraine into the single roaming area with the European Union on 15 April. Millions of Ukrainians in the EU are now able to communicate with their relatives in Ukraine without overpayments thanks to an agreement between operators due to Russia's full-scale invasion and the large number of Ukrainians leaving for Europe. Background: This regime has been in place on a temporary basis since the beginning of the active phase of the war and was last extended in July 2024 for one year. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Yahoo
Daywatch: Inside Illinois' agricultural system
Good morning, Chicago. As climate change ravages many corners of the country, Illinois — with its nutrient-rich soil and more temperate weather — is emerging as the land of opportunity. But an agricultural landscape plagued by harmful farming practices, profit-focused landowners and a reliance on two cash crops could jeopardize the state's long-term future. The Tribune is launching a series of special reports to examine how Illinois became an agricultural giant and analyze the hurdles today's farmers face amid a changing climate. In part one of 'Cash crops, hidden costs,' we look at who owns land in Illinois. Less than 25% of the state's farmland is owned by the person who works the land. So if farms aren't owned by farmers — who owns them? To answer this question, the Tribune analyzed over 3.7 million acres across 10 counties with the most fertile soils, highest cash rents and available historical data. Click here to see what environmental reporter Karina Atkins found. And here are the top stories you need to know to start your day, including: what lawmakers passed over the weekend in Springfield, what that means for Bears stadium efforts and why the city is seeing a low rate of citations for dog bite complaints. Today's eNewspaper edition | Subscribe to more newsletters | Asking Eric | Horoscopes | Puzzles & Games | Today in History While offering a sunny take on the passage of a roughly $55 billion state spending plan balanced in part by cutting back on some of his own priorities, Gov. JB Pritzker blamed Illinois' latest fiscal challenges not on a state tax system he once described as 'unfair' and 'inadequate' but on economic headwinds created by President Donald Trump. 'Donald Trump's incomprehensible tariff policies have put a tax on our working families and dampened the nation's economic outlook,' he said. 'The Trump slump is affecting every state, and the chaos and uncertainty of the Republicans' proposed cuts to health care and education and jobs have made budgeting, well, harder than ever before.' While the Illinois General Assembly didn't end up passing legislation this session that helped or hurt the Bears' stadium efforts, one suburban lawmaker said the legislature got close to a deal on property tax legislation — a measure widely seen as a way to ease a team move to Arlington Heights. Along with a budget that passed shortly before Saturday's deadline, Illinois legislators passed a flurry of bills in the final days of the General Assembly's spring session on issues ranging from police hiring practices to traffic safety. Ed Wolf doesn't quite recall the moments between being knocked off his bike and losing a chunk of his face in November 2023. But he remembers the phone call he made to his wife: 'I said, 'You have to come get me. I've been attacked by a pit bull,'' Wolf said. 'And she goes, 'Are you kidding?'' Since its inception in 1842, Washington Square Park has seen its fair share of eras. But like any green space, the square needs its maintenance and upkeep. City officials say that in recent years, the park's grass has significantly deteriorated and needs to be aerated and seeded. Forty retailers along Oak Street, Rush Street, Delaware Place and Michigan Avenue lent their storefronts and windows Sunday to PAWS for the annual Angels With Tails event. Inside and outside, people perusing the luxury shopping streets could find everything from playful kittens to former greyhound racing dogs. Case Keenum thought he might be done. The 37-year-old journeyman quarterback missed all of last season with the Houston Texans after suffering a foot injury during the preseason. He could see the writing on the wall. After 13 years in the NFL, it might finally be time to give it up. Then the Chicago Bears called. The shadow that follows second-generation athletes can be imposing. Phoenix Gill might not receive the same level of publicity as Bronny James, but as the son of a University of Illinois Hall of Famer and member of the 1989 'Flyin' Illini' Final Four team, the St. Ignatius guard faced high expectations. Now is the time of year when families start thinking about a summer vacation. In the pre-internet era, that meant getting out the creased, dog-eared maps from the car's glove compartment. Spread across a kitchen table, the maps fueled dreams of cross-country travel, unburdened by the reality of endless hours in an overstuffed vehicle. Nafsi brings a chef's heart and soul food to the historic South Shore Cultural Center in Chicago, but the earnest service needs to rise to the occasion, writes Louisa Kung Liu Chu. Condolences to everyone's calendar. Despite sobering news of canceled summer festivals and slashed National Endowment for the Arts grants, Chicago's summer — knock wood — looks to be as busy as ever.
