RANGELEY — About 16 Canada geese were corralled in Haley Pond and euthanized Wednesday morning, according to United States Department of Agriculture officials.
The agency removes wildlife where it creates issues with the ecology of an area or peoples’ health and safety, USDA spokesperson Tanya Espinosa said.
“Canada geese are beautiful waterfowl, and their current status is a conservation success story,” she said. “Generally, problems arise when they become overabundant based on population goals set forth by regulatory agencies, and when their presence results in human-wildlife conflicts.”
The USDA’s Wildlife Services program works with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which manages Canada geese under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and sets rules for how geese and other birds can be interacted with, Espinosa said. The wildlife services program requires permits for wildlife damage management strategies, which can include humane euthanasia via carbon dioxide per American Veterinary Medical Association guidelines, she said.
Some of the problems the fowl present include overgrazing, disease, attacks in frequented or recreational areas and the pollution of reservoirs, swimming areas and personal property, Espinosa said. Wildlife biologists and specialists apply science-based mitigation to address wildlife-related issues, she said.
Conservation efforts between 1970 and 2009 were successful with an increase in population from 230,000 to nearly 3.9 million, she said. Goose populations in Rangeley are now overabundant, which has caused geese to become accustomed to human presence.
“This behavior has led to an alarming amount of droppings in recreational areas which can spread disease to people, and has resulted in damaged lawns, and costly cleanup and repair efforts,” Espinosa said. E. coli and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza are some of the greatest concerns, she said.
The Wildlife Services program has worked for over a year with those who made the request, employing required nonlethal methods like general harassment, fencing, sound cannons and chemicals which decrease appeal for grazing — none of those methods have worked, Espinosa said.
Rangeley Town Manager Joe Roach said the town was not involved in the request for removal. Historically, the town raised funds for efforts to repel the geese, but opted not to in the budget process last year. The town has referred residents to the USDA since then, but have not partnered in any recent efforts, he said.
“So, if that has happened, I wouldn’t know about it,” Roach said. “The federal agency, would be in touch with the (requesters) directly, so the town of Rangeley is not actively involved in it.”
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