11-04-2025
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.
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