Meeting To Discuss Geese In Southeast's Lakes, Parks

SOUTHEAST, NY — Southeast town officials will hold a meeting Wednesday to continue the discussion of how to control of geese at the town's parks and beaches. Goose poop is fouling not only local lakes and ponds but also children's playing fields.

The issue has divided the community. The September town board meeting was heated at times as some residents complained about the town's recent shooting of geese at Lake Tonetta. That's the only place the town can hunt geese, Town Supervisor Tony Hay told the group of about 45 people who attended the meeting, according to The Examiner.

It's not a new problem. As far back as 2004 the Lake Tonetta Advisory Committee begged residents not to feed the growing geese population. In 2011 the committee tried addling eggs to prevent the development of embryos.

The town has a permit from the New York Department of Environmental Conservation that authorizes the addling of eggs and killing of geese should they pose a public health threat to waterways, drinking water supplies or swimming areas that were regularly tested for bacteria.

Canada geese are federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which protects migratory birds under agreements with various nations, including Canada. Under the act, the federal government has set regulations that make it illegal to take, possess, import, export, transport, sell, purchase, barter, or offer for sale, purchase, or barter, any migratory bird, or the parts, nests, or eggs of such a bird except under the terms of a valid federal permit, according to a Taft Law report.

Penalties for killing the geese can range up to six months in jail and include fines. And that happened to someone who was infuriated about goose droppings: a New Jersey man was fined $1,000 in 2009 for shooting and killing a Canada goose that was pooping on his deck, NJ.com reported.

Dealing with them requires permits, manpower and money, and usually comes with a lot of controversy. In Mamaroneck in 2013 a planned cull was stopped by animal activists. SEE: Mamaroneck Geese Formally Pardoned.

The meeting in Southeast is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Town Hall, 1360 Route 22.