Welcome to Save Our Geese
Save Our Geese was formed after, in 2020, Lake of the Pines (LOP) attacked and killed eighty (80) healthy, wild, Canada Geese, destroyed their nests, as well as developing young still in their eggs. Our intention is to expose this inhumane, and at times, brutal method of population control, as well as to call for an immediate end to lethal methods of preventing wild, federally protected Canada Geese from swimming in the lakes, nesting in the grasses, and raising their young. We want to bring to light the fact that, for nearly a year, we have OPPOSED the killing and hunting of OUR geese, lodged complaints with staff, Board and Committee members, all which have been ignored.
Furthermore, to our dismay, these complaints have never been logged into LOP’s official documents. For these reasons, this website is created to document our opposition, unite like-minded neighbors and friends, suggest alternative solutions to killing our Canada geese and their young, and to express the impacts of the Boards decision to allow HUNTING in our community (without a direct vote from the people who live here).
The Assault on OUR Geese
The first assault on our Canada geese came under the authority of a US Fish & Wildlife depredation permit that expired on December 31, 2020. Eighty (80) geese were shot, bludgeoned to death and tossed into the garbage dumpster.
As if that was not enough, the second assault came in the fall, after the LOP Board approved “hunting” in our community (without a direct vote of the homeowners in the association). Yes, you read that correctly, HUNTING within the confines of our active, peaceful, community, our home. A community where people walk their dogs, friends play golf, and children play. A community that was purposely created as a park-like setting, with lakes, creeks, and golf courses. A beautiful community violently interrupted by the disturbing sounds of shotgun blasts, barking dogs, and fearful, crying children.
Like the tennis courts, the swim center and the golf course, the native wildlife that are naturally attracted to the lake, belongs to all members and citizens alike. It is the reason many of us chose to buy here and to call LOP home. Many homeowners enjoy the wildlife here, and do not consider them intruders. We understand that many wildlife species in the LOP area have been peacefully living on this land for hundreds of years. We also understand that, when necessary, non-lethal approaches to reducing Canada geese populations are proven to work when employed systematically and consistently, and that lethal methods are not only inhumane, but also temporary. If there is a valid reason for the need to reduce the native Canada geese populations, we are here to advocate for the non-lethal option.
Hunting on Private Property at LOP
According to LOP documents, on July 31, 2020 approximately three month’s post depredation of 80 healthy geese, LOP Wildlife Management Service Team (WMST) met with Nevada County Fish & Game Commissioner Craig Ferrari (appointed by Nevada County Supervisor Ed Scofield) to seek endorsements for “HUNTING” in the fall of 2020, to kill MORE geese and obtain help green-lighting another deprivation permit application to US Fish & Wildlife for 2021. The killing of 80 healthy Canada geese was not enough, this time WMST wants to kill MORE THAN 80 geese. During the July meeting, the WMST anticipated the wounding, maiming and killing of Canada geese, would go on for “several years”.
Residents also need to be aware that during waterfowl hunting season for Canada Geese (which is 10/3 – 1/10) hunters must have your permission (often signed permission) to hunt on your private property, to remove nests & eggs on your property, and to discharge a fire arm within 150 yards of your home or other buildings on your property. We believe that many LOP residents were misled about these facts and their rights.
We also believe that three months is insufficient time to evaluate the successes/failures of the spring maiming and killings. We ask, who besides the WMST evaluated the impact on the geese population to determine if lethal methods work, and if more healthy, native, Canada geese needed to be destroyed? This question should have been asked by the LOP Board, BEFORE approving the WMST’s request on August 19, to continue to shoot and kill the geese, and apply for an additional 2021 permit. We’re unsure of the actual number of healthy geese that were destroyed as a result of the combined deprivation permit kills and hunting season because the LOP Board has not provided that information.
When the shooting began at the end of 2020, many of the LOP members were under the false impression that this second killing spree was part of the initial deprivation permit. It was not. Members of LOP need to know the total number of geese killed in all hunts last year and before more are killed. We need to know of the successes/failures of the lethal methods to control our geese population as opposed to non-lethal methods.
Lake Wildwood
The 2017 issues with E.coli at Lake Wildwood, 25 miles away from LOP, have been used and misused to make a case for the killing of our Canada geese at LOP. However, if we look closely at the situation at Lake Wildwood and examine the claims, high levels of speculation were involved claiming that the E. coli contamination came from native Canada geese. Especially in light of the August 14, 2017 leak that seeped 1,800 gallons of raw human sewage into the lake.
The current pending lawsuit (filed in Nevada County Superior Court on 6/15/2018 Case #CU18-083052) against Lake Wildwood, Nevada County, Nevada Irrigation District and Nevada Sanitation District alleges that employees at the sanitation district were negligent in their maintenance of its waters and infrastructure and failed to properly inspect it for E.coli which caused sewage to be introduced into Lake Wildwood and sickening several people.
On May 24, 2019, Nevada County Health & Human Services released a statement on Lake Wildwood that said “The original source of that 2017 outbreak strain HAS NOT yet been determined and at this point is unlikely to be.” After finding documents relative to the sewerage leaks at Lake Wildwood, we argue that the geese became contaminated with E. coli from the water. This could explain why the strain was isolated in a goose scat sample. Until we can unequivocally determine that the geese contaminated the water, we must stop killing our geese.
LOP conducts monthly water testing. A look at historical data (over 3-years) shows no threats to health.
Many advocates for the Canada geese believe that public safety isn’t the real reason for the killing of our geese — some people simply don’t want to share their docks and grassy areas with the animals or their droppings.
As we will continue to lay out on this website, it has been found that numerous documents, including media interviews, show the single complaint about the Canada geese at LOP are the droppings!! We believe that the LOP Board and WMST worked to instill a “fear” of the geese in an effort to get homeowners to accept their flawed plan to unnecessarily wound, maim and kill; our native Canada geese. The killing is inhumane, temporary, and lacks scientific merit for long-term solutions.
Why don’t we let the geese off the hook and continue due diligence water monitoring along with non-lethal deterrence?
Quiet Enjoyment of our Community/Property
The killing of our geese has created a hostile community environment and pitted neighbors one against the other. With the stressors of rising COVID infection numbers and associated deaths, as well as accomplishing tasks from home that should be performed at the office, the emotional trauma (especially for our children and grandchildren) of anticipating the sounds of gun shots, and images of dead and dying geese is overwhelming. It is traumatizing to residents, to our children & grandchildren, and also to our pets, no matter how safe we’re told things are.
There has to be a better solution in OUR community with OUR wildlife.
Your voice is needed to STOP the implementation of another year of dead and dying geese, gun shots, frightened children and panicked dogs. Please participate in the upcoming Board Meeting on February 17 at 2PM via ZOOM. Watch this site for information on pre-registering to comment during the meeting.
Let the LOP Board and the WMST know that the jig is up. Lethal removal of our geese does not solve anything long-term. The fear-based campaign to blame the geese on water contamination issues, in a separate community, 25 miles away (Lake Wildwood) are unsubstantiated.
The LOP Board has a duty to represent all their members, to be transparent in their dealings, and not ignore our valid complaints.
• Tell the LOP Board they must stop killing geese and to consistently apply more effective, humane solutions to keep the geese away from the areas where they’re considered a “nuisance.”
• Tell the Board as long as LOP continues water monitoring any impending health issue trends will be identified well in advance of exposure.
• Tell them we want a peaceful community and friendly relationships with our neighbors.
• Tell them we don’t want or need to use unproven lethal methods to reduce our geese population.
Click here for more ways you can help Save Our Geese.
Click here for more talking points and non-lethal suggestions.
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has. – Margaret Mead
