NEW York’s resident goose population has been growing steadily for many years, and conflicts between these geese and people are increasing. Recent surveys indicate that the population now exceeds 160,000 birds during the nesting season, with fall population numbers even larger.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation announced dates and details for the special September Canada goose hunting season.
The September goose hunting season is designed to harvest local-nesting or “resident” Canada geese. The season opens Saturday and continues through Sept. 25 in most of upstate New York. For the Westchester County shoreline, which is part of the Long Island Zone, the season is from Sept. 4-30. Waterfowl zone descriptions can be found in last year’s waterfowl hunting regulations guide and on the DEC website.
The daily bag limit will be five Canada geese per day (10 in possession) in all areas except the Lake Champlain Zone, where the limit is two geese per day (four in possession).
During the past three September seasons, between 40,000 and 50,000 Canada geese were harvested by New York hunters. Biologists estimate that nearly 30 percent of the Canada goose population must be harvested each year to stabilize their numbers. Banding studies have shown that very few migratory geese are present anywhere in New York during the September hunting season.
New York hunters must have a valid 2000-01 (last year’s) hunting license and the new 2001 federal duck stamp to hunt geese in September. Hunters also must be registered in New York’s Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program (HIP) for last year or the coming year. To register, call 1-888-427-5447 or access the website at http://www.wetland.net.
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A Virginia reverend, criticized by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals for giving away goldfish at a church bazaar, has responded with a letter filled with fire and brimstone. According to the Virginia-Pilot, Tom Quinlan, a pastor from the Church of the Holy Family in Virginia Beach, admits never giving much thought to animal rights organizations such as PETA until a letter was sent to the church’s carnival chairman. PETA spokesperson Amy Rhodes wrote that the animal rights group had received calls of concern for the welfare of the goldfish being given as prizes. After accusing the church of having a lack of concern for “sentient” animals, Rhodes ended the letter with “May we hear from you?”
PETA got exactly what it asked for.
Quinlan composed a letter full of theology and criticism. He called himself a “Cruelty Caseworker to the Human Race” and attacked PETA’s cold-hearted stance towards human beings. “I waited until after our parish fair was over before responding to your calumnious, judgmental, inane and arrogant letter,” wrote Quinlan. He responded to PETA’s accusation that fair booth operators view the animals as expendable commodities by telling them, “That is a sin of calumny against human animals. You are totally out of ethical order.”