Fairhope, Alabama
ISSUE BEGAN AT QUAIL CREEK
In response to questions from Fairhope Courier Editor Mike Odom, the city's General Superintendent James Gillespie said that the initial concern was geese near the lake at the golf course.
Non -native Canadian geese are considered a nuisance in many places throughout the country; but are still protected by the Migratory Bird Act:
Canada Geese are protected under the Federal Migratory Bird Act of 1918 . This Act makes it illegal to harm or injure a goose and damage or move its eggs and nest, without a Federal permit. Not complying with the Federal Act can result in fines ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 and this also applies to an untrained dog’s actions.
Gillespie: "... the geese (problem) started at Quail Creek ... because of all the stuff ... picking up golf balls ... that's where it started ... ."
Gillespie went on to say that when 200 or so geese at the beach were discovered, it was decided to address that problem as well.
Gillespie: "That's a lot of geese ... while we were addressing one problem ... we decided to do the other one too."
Gillespie said he did not realize the city's Environmental Board coincidentally was meeting at about the same time concerning the issue but "when (it was discovered) there were 200 (geese) down there (beach) instead of 40, that's when we addressed the issue."
Gillespie: "It wasn't we were trying to go around the Board ... just that there were so many down there (beach) at one time."
Gillespie went on to say the cost to the city for the removal by contractors for the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture will be less than $1,500.
Gillespie said he had been working on the goose problem at the golf course for over 2 years: "There's tons of red tape ... Federal laws and permits required ... that's why we hired these people ... they know the laws ... they are the ones who are supposed to be the specialists on the wild geese."
GEESE DECEASED?
In response to a question from Mobile Press Register reporter Jane Nicholes, Gillespie said he thought the geese had been destroyed.
Nicholes: "Does anyone know if the geese were exterminated -- or moved?"
Gillespie: "They were removed from Fairhope ... in my personal opinion ... they are (now) deceased."
[Publisher's Note: A recent study by Auburn University concluded the bay contamination originated from both human and animal sources, the duck ponds being a major contributor (click). Another study done earlier by the University of South Alabama reached similar conclusions (click)]
ISSUE BEGAN AT QUAIL CREEK
In response to questions from Fairhope Courier Editor Mike Odom, the city's General Superintendent James Gillespie said that the initial concern was geese near the lake at the golf course.
Non -native Canadian geese are considered a nuisance in many places throughout the country; but are still protected by the Migratory Bird Act:
Canada Geese are protected under the Federal Migratory Bird Act of 1918 . This Act makes it illegal to harm or injure a goose and damage or move its eggs and nest, without a Federal permit. Not complying with the Federal Act can result in fines ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 and this also applies to an untrained dog’s actions.
Gillespie: "... the geese (problem) started at Quail Creek ... because of all the stuff ... picking up golf balls ... that's where it started ... ."
Gillespie went on to say that when 200 or so geese at the beach were discovered, it was decided to address that problem as well.
Gillespie: "That's a lot of geese ... while we were addressing one problem ... we decided to do the other one too."
Gillespie said he did not realize the city's Environmental Board coincidentally was meeting at about the same time concerning the issue but "when (it was discovered) there were 200 (geese) down there (beach) instead of 40, that's when we addressed the issue."
Gillespie: "It wasn't we were trying to go around the Board ... just that there were so many down there (beach) at one time."
Gillespie went on to say the cost to the city for the removal by contractors for the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture will be less than $1,500.
Gillespie said he had been working on the goose problem at the golf course for over 2 years: "There's tons of red tape ... Federal laws and permits required ... that's why we hired these people ... they know the laws ... they are the ones who are supposed to be the specialists on the wild geese."
GEESE DECEASED?
In response to a question from Mobile Press Register reporter Jane Nicholes, Gillespie said he thought the geese had been destroyed.
Nicholes: "Does anyone know if the geese were exterminated -- or moved?"
Gillespie: "They were removed from Fairhope ... in my personal opinion ... they are (now) deceased."
[Publisher's Note: A recent study by Auburn University concluded the bay contamination originated from both human and animal sources, the duck ponds being a major contributor (click). Another study done earlier by the University of South Alabama reached similar conclusions (click)]