Michigan DNR Pauses Controversial Goose Euthanasia Program Amid Public Outcry
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has temporarily halted a contentious program designed to manage the local Canada goose population through capture and lethal gassing. The decision, announced by DNR Director M. Scott Bowen in a letter dated May 9, follows strong opposition from Democratic lawmakers and animal welfare advocates who criticized the initiative as inhumane and disproportionate.
The proposed program, officially titled the "Canada Goose Program" on the DNR website, was slated to begin in 2025 and aimed to provide private landowners, including businesses, with tools to address perceived conflicts between humans and geese. The DNR cited increasing concerns about goose-related issues, including droppings, property damage, and the spread of diseases like Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), commonly known as bird flu.
Under the program, residents with the proper permits would have been authorized to capture nuisance Canada geese during their flightless molting period, which typically occurs between June 1 and July 1. Instead of relocating captured geese, the program mandated euthanasia. Landowners seeking permits were required to demonstrate that they had previously attempted non-lethal control methods, such as habitat modification, scare tactics, and nest destruction.
News of the program sparked immediate backlash, with critics focusing on the method of euthanasia – lethal gassing within portable gas chambers. Opponents argued that the program was cruel and inhumane, particularly the planned roundup of geese and their goslings during their vulnerable flightless period.
Senator Dayna Polehanki (D-Livonia) and 11 cosigning lawmakers penned a letter to the DNR in April, urging the agency to reconsider the program. The letter highlighted the potential for the annual roundup of potentially 10,000 or more geese and their goslings during their summer molt.
Animal welfare organizations, such as In Defense of Animals, also mobilized against the program. They encouraged Michiganders to contact their representatives and demand ethical, non-lethal management solutions.
The DNR defended the program, stating that it was designed to address a growing problem of human-goose conflicts and that it was the culmination of over 40 years of experience in managing the local goose population. The program’s FAQ page on the DNR website outlined the rationale behind the initiative, emphasizing the need to provide landowners with options to mitigate the negative impacts of overabundant goose populations.
The initial plan included a provision to allow participants to pay to have the meat from euthanized geese processed, tested, and donated to those in need. However, until that system was fully established, the program stipulated that goose carcasses would be disposed of in landfills.
The decision to pause the program came just a week before the May 16 deadline for landowners to apply for permits. Director Bowen’s letter acknowledged the concerns raised by lawmakers and the public, stating that the agency had decided to pause the program for this year. No permits will be issued, and no goose roundups will take place in 2024.
"After further consideration and consultation with our Wildlife staff, we have decided to pause the program for this year and will not be issuing any permits or conducting this work on any sites," Bowen wrote. "We will continue to research alternative options for managing human-goose conflicts and health and human safety concerns for areas with overabundant Canada Goose populations."
The DNR affirmed its commitment to prioritizing non-lethal techniques for managing goose populations. These techniques include habitat modification, eliminating food sources, using scare tactics and repellents, and destroying nests and eggs.
"The agency continues to prioritize non-lethal techniques, including habitat modification, elimination of feeding, scare tactics, repellents and nest/egg destruction," the letter stated. "It is important for the health and safety of our citizens and the management of our natural resources that we continue to use the goose management tools at our disposal."
The DNR shared a copy of Director Bowen’s letter with USA TODAY but declined to provide further comment. The pause in the program signals a potential shift in the DNR’s approach to goose management, with a renewed focus on exploring and implementing non-lethal alternatives. The future of the "Canada Goose Program" remains uncertain, as the agency conducts further research and seeks to address public concerns. The debate highlights the complex challenges of balancing human interests with wildlife management and the importance of considering ethical and humane solutions in addressing human-wildlife conflicts.
