New vector of chytrid

[edwardsatc]

I suppose Kerry Kriger will want to build an air defense system for geese to keep them from entering the U.S. ...

[Rusty_Shackleford]

Originally Posted by edwardsatc

I suppose Kerry Kriger will want to build an air defense system for geese to keep them from entering the U.S. ...

Since geese maybe possible spreading BD is this an instance where we CAN blame Canada?

[Ed]

Originally Posted by Rusty_Shackleford

Since geese maybe possible spreading BD is this an instance where we CAN blame Canada?

Only after we blame the game management of the species and our creating perfect habitat for their populations to explode (particularly in the East of the non-migrating subspecies).

Ed

[Rusty_Shackleford]

Originally Posted by Ed

Only after we blame the game management of the species and our creating perfect habitat for their populations to explode (particularly in the East of the non-migrating subspecies).

Ed

I blame myself too as I gave up goose hunting 15 years ago. You bring up a good point though. There are many geese that live here year round. Golf courses and retention ponds are perfect goose habitat. An entire industry (goose removal) has sprung up overnight due to this problem. If someone is looking for an investment opportunity go buy a few pairs of swans. People will rent your swans from you for the summer to keep geese out of their ponds. Every year the swans breed, you have more swans to distribute. The hard part is catching them at the end of summer.

[Ed]

Originally Posted by Rusty_Shackleford

I blame myself too as I gave up goose hunting 15 years ago. You bring up a good point though. There are many geese that live here year round. Golf courses and retention ponds are perfect goose habitat. An entire industry (goose removal) has sprung up overnight due to this problem. If someone is looking for an investment opportunity go buy a few pairs of swans. People will rent your swans from you for the summer to keep geese out of their ponds. Every year the swans breed, you have more swans to distribute. The hard part is catching them at the end of summer.

And moving swans around is the same as moving geese around.... waterfowl are waterfowl.. You also have to have enough swans to keep the geese off the water, and that number may be above the ability of the pond/water way to handle the damage from feeding on the plants (and if the water is too shallow, you run the risk of losing the swans to botulism)... Gathering them up in mass and butchering them for food banks would be a good start. Several years ago, New Jersey held a hunting season to focus on non-migratory populations of geese.. I should check to see if it is still in effect.

Ed

[Rusty_Shackleford]

I wonder if a plan was presented to a state's Dept. of Concservation, F&W, etc. if they would consider a goose hunt like that. If it's explained that a harvest of non migratory geese would actually help the environment and slow the spread of BD it seems like a win win situation. I don't think Illinois has a hunt like New Jersey does. I bet I could drive to 3 subdivisions tomorrow and count well over a few hundred geese.

[lukebalsavich]

Green and Blue herons are cruising around the banks, hitting more areas that frogs are typically inhabit. They also have a tendency of moving from spot to spot while searching for food. The implication of my reference to herons was not that chytrid would survive the intestinal track but that the birds perhaps would be more likely to move the zoospores around, and perhaps therefore would merit more interest. Although there are many many more geese. Cranes are also worth considering for the same reasons.

[ridinshotgun]

It isn't just state fish and game that has to sign off on season adjustment. The geese, whether migratory or a resident population, is considered a migratory bird and is affected by several international treaties so USFWS has to sign off on any change to a season.

Folks within USFWS admit that they would never alter season because there would be too much backlash from animal rights groups. It is easier to apply for a special permit to kill them for damage to crops or golf courses than to change the hunting seasons.

Originally Posted by Rusty_Shackleford

I wonder if a plan was presented to a state's Dept. of Concservation, F&W, etc. if they would consider a goose hunt like that. If it's explained that a harvest of non migratory geese would actually help the environment and slow the spread of BD it seems like a win win situation. I don't think Illinois has a hunt like New Jersey does. I bet I could drive to 3 subdivisions tomorrow and count well over a few hundred geese.