Another Bush War Starts

“Any necessary activities to protect human health and safety, including lethal control”. With these words the Bush Administration authorizes a new war against nature. The threat is real, the enemy is all around us and it is time to take up arms against geese.

US Government vs. Canadian Geese: “Resident Canada geese populations have increased dramatically over the past 15 years," said Service Director H. Dale Hall. "These high population levels have been shown to cause problems for natural and economic resources, and we believe increased local management with national oversight is the best approach to reduce conflicts and bring the population under control.

The rapid rise of resident Canada geese populations has been attributed to a number of factors. Key among these is that most resident Canada geese live in temperate climates with relatively stable breeding habitat conditions. They tolerate human and other disturbances, have a relative abundance of habitat such as mowed grass and waterways, and fly relatively short distances for winter compared with migratory Canada goose populations. The virtual absence of waterfowl hunting and natural predators in urban areas provides additional protection to those portions of the resident population.

Urban sprawl and computer models predicting horrific natural disasters have failed to stop the relentless growth of Canadian Geese populations. Mother Nature seems to be adapting rather than collapsing, and the same administration that wants destroy wildlife by drilling in ANWR is preparing to begin the killing of tiny baby birds. Yes, even the innocent ones.

Geese Have Environmental Consequences: (pdf) At some future point, it is possible that density-dependent regulation of the population would occur. That is, it is possible that geese would so deplete their food resources that a population decline would begin. However, the timing, likelihood, and scale of a population decline of this nature is unpredictable.

Administration officials admit that the natural course of nature could eventually resolve the problem. Many administration critics believe that periodic inspections are sufficient. Aerial and satellite intelligence, however, indicate that geese have anuses of mass defecation and preemptive measures are justified. Administration critics are expected to be outraged.