On Thu, 6 Mar 1997, Cathi Pelletier wrote:

> It seems that the snow goose population in central North America has
> increased nearly 300 percent since the 1960's. The increase is mainly
> due to a 50% decline in the adult mortality rate, which has been brought
> about by less hunting pressure and more food provided by farmers.
> However, it is not the farmers who are worried.
>
> Due to their feeding habit of "grubbing," or digging out the roots and
> rhizomes of plants, the geese are destroying the coastal tundra habitat
> where they breed. This was determined by a long-term study of the goose
> colony at La Perouse Bay near Churchill, Manitoba.
>
> I'd like to echo Scott's advice to learn about the problems and tasks of
> the people who are advocating thinning out the snow goose population
> before we "confront" them. They seem to have a legitimate reason for
> what they want to do. If the snow geese are indeed destroying the
> habitat (you should see the pictures!), they destroy it not only for
> themselves, but for all species that live and breed there.
>
> Cathi Pelletier, Waterbury, CT Heronwing at juno.com

I appreciate the information on the effect of the geese on the tundra
habitat. I'd like to take your advice and learn a bit more about what's
going on before I take any action; I think your advice is well-founded and
I appreciate it. There are some questions that I think the audience is
capable of answering that might help.

Does the history of the conservation of snow geese show that 1960s levels
are the norm? That is, are we sure that the levels that we have today
represent an expansion beyond the holding capacity of the tundra or are
they the top of a population expansion cycle? Are we well-enough aware of
the tundra's natural cycle to determine that human interference is the
only device left to correct the problem?

Also, is the hunt planned in Quebec designed to respond to the findings
found in Manitoba? There was no mention of the tundra, only agriculture,
in the reasons I've seen so far for the hunt. If anyone can provide more
specific information on the hunt's purpose, I would appreciate it.

Somebody has already said that the spring hunts carried out in Nebraska
and those areas have proven to be uneffective in reducing numbers. Is
there a way to encourage the birds to use different nesting grounds?

Lastly, is "Living Bird" available in any electronic forms? Our library
is sadly underfunded and I doubt its presence among our illustrious
stacks. :)

Thanks again for responding!

-pat
scott931 at uidaho.edu