Dear Neighbors,

Wilson-Tuscarora State Park has had a problem in the past several years of too many Canadian Geese.  This year the park is implementing an aggressive, but humane resolution of the Canada geese nuisance in our park and nearby community.  Swans will not be impacted by this program.

The program we are implementing has been devised for us by GeesePeace. GeesePeace is a non-profit organization that builds better communities through innovative, effective and humane solutions to wildlife conflicts. The methods they use are endorsed by wildlife welfare/rights organizations like the Humane Society of the United States. More information about GeesePeace can be found at their web site, www.geesepeace.org.

Here is the essence of the GeesePeace program.

Population stabilization:  We need your help. If geese are nesting on your property, please contact us so that we can treat the eggs with corn oil early in the development cycle so no new goslings will be born this year. Without goslings, the flock does not need to stay here … they have no goslings to raise and protect … and, we can work on getting the adults and juveniles to leave the area before they molt.  Do not chase nesting geese. They will just re-nest nearby and we may not be able to find the new nest. GeesePeace will be offering a free training session for State Parks, town officials and other interested persons in the humane egg oiling protocols recommended by the Humane Society of the United States.  If you are interested in volunteering to help with egg oiling, please plan to attend the training session on Monday, March 17, 2-4 PM at the Town Hall.  Please see the separate flyer to register for this free training session.

Nuisance abatement: Wilson Tuscarora State Park will be using a variety of hazing techniques possibly including use of a border collie, lasers, remote control boats and other scare tactics.  With the continued use of these tactics, geese should come to feel that the park and town are not a safe place to stay during their moult. 

No-feeding of geese: We need your help here too. Let the geese stay wild. There is plenty of food around for them. Feeding geese complicates our program and is discouraged by all wildlife organizations and animal rights groups.

Canada Geese do not know boundaries so it is important that individuals as well as the whole community of Wilson participate and help to initiate this program and make it a success. The success of this program stems from the support and assistance of the community.   

On Monday, March 17, David Feld from GeesePeace will be offering a free workshop from 2-4 PM at the Town Hall to teach more about the program and train participants how to oil goose eggs.  If you are interested in learning more or volunteering to help out in this effort, please see the flyer below about the workshop. 

Text Box: GeesePeace 2007 - Training Workshop    

 

 

Text Box: Conducted by GeesePeace, this free, two hour training workshop will provide all of the necessary information, methods, and expertise required to locate and oil (using corn oil) Canada Geese eggs in your area.  This humane method is designed to reduce the waterfowl population in early spring and is a necessary component of a community program to reduce or eliminate Canada geese conflicts.  The methods are endorsed by the Humane Society of the U.S.

 

 

 

 

          

Text Box:         Text Box: Training Workshops  Monday, March 17th  2008  2:00 to 4:00 p.m.  Wilson Town Hall 375 Lake Street Wilson, NY      14172 Tel:  716-751-6704 Ext. 10 Pre-registration required      

 

  

Agenda

Geese biology

How to locate a nest

Safe Interaction with Geese

Federal and State Requirements

Reporting results

Consent forms

Egg oiling methods

Video presentation

Text Box: www.geesepeace.org  

 

 

 Text Box: WHO SHOULD ATTEND - Municipal, county, and state park maintenance, school groundskeepers, public works employees, adult volunteers, golf course employees, environmental commissions, conservationists and naturalists.

 

 There is no fee for this program – pre-registration is required so that we can have appropriate number of handouts, etc.

 To register call – Diane Muscoreil @ 751 – 6704  For more information contact Chase Chaskey of the New York State Parks – Environmental Management Bureau @ (518) 474 – 0409 or chase.chaskey@oprhp.state.ny.us