AR-News: (MD - US) Group offers help with humane mgmt of Canada geese

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GROUP OFFERS OPPORTUNITY TO REDUCE CONFLICTS WITH CANADA GEESE IN

MONTGOMERY COUNTY



Mont. County Residents Urged To Sign Up For Program 

To Limit Growth of Goose Populations



WASHINGTON (March 23, 2004) – This spring, Montgomery County, Md. property

owners and managers will have the opportunity to participate in a program

aimed at reducing conflicts with the county’s growing population of

resident Canada geese.



Over the last ten years, populations of resident Canada geese have

increased as geese have adapted to golf courses, athletic fields, parks,

ponds and picnic grounds. Large flocks of geese can make these areas less

attractive and usable by humans. Communities have addressed these problems

through a variety of methods, including rounding up and killing the birds.



The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) favors several humane

options that have proven to be effective. One such technique is addling

goose eggs. It involves temporarily removing geese from their nests and

determining the stage of egg development. Development is halted in the

eggs that do not yet have developed embryos by covering the shell with oil

or removing the eggs.



Since Canada geese are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty

Act, their eggs may only be addled under a special permit from the U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The HSUS, in cooperation with the

Maryland Department of Natural Resources; Montgomery County Parks; the

cities of Rockville and Gaithersburg; GeesePeace, Inc.; the Doris Day

Animal League; the Fund for Animals and others have formed GeesePeace

Montgomery to facilitate egg addling efforts in Montgomery County.



GeesePeace Montgomery will work under a permit from the USFWS to addle

eggs in Montgomery County this spring. Owners and managers of residential

or commercial properties can apply to participate in the program.



“Canada geese are a common sight across Montgomery County,” said Maggie

Brasted, assistant director of the Wild Neighbors Program of The HSUS.

“Egg addling offers an opportunity to humanely limit the growth of the

Canada goose population so that we can all live in harmony with our wild

neighbors.”



GeesePeace Montgomery provides training in egg addling techniques to

property owners, grounds staff of commercial properties and volunteers who

will visit private or public properties from early April until late May to

addle eggs.



Any property owner or manager in Montgomery County can participate.

Contact The HSUS’ Maggie Brasted at 301-548-7753 or mbrasted at hsus.org to

sign up for the training or to participate in the program.



The Humane Society of the United States is the nation’s largest animal

protection organization with more than eight million members and

constituents. The HSUS is a mainstream voice for animals, with active

programs in companion animals and equine protection, wildlife and habitat

protection, animals in research and farm animals and sustainable

agriculture. The HSUS protects all animals through legislation,

litigation, investigation, education, advocacy and fieldwork. The

non-profit organization, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary in

2004, is based in Washington, DC and has 10 regional offices across the

country. On the web at www.hsus.org.



-30-

NOTE: Photos of Canada geese and egg addling are available upon request.



For More Information Contact: Karen L. Allanach (301) 548-7778

E-mail: kallanach at hsus.org








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