Post by gunner on Jul 23, 2006 11:49:05 GMT -5
Here's last Sunday's Indpls. Star Outdoor columunist Skip Hess's article on goose control.
I had some issues with the story when I read it. I guess I wasn't the only one as heres one readers response in todays Star...
www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060716/SPORTS/607160473&SearchID=73251545363319
Todays response from reader...
Poor explanation of issues pertaining to goose control
Re: Skip Hess' July 16 column. While I appreciate his effort to inform readers of some of the issues of goose control, the method and tone were worrisome.
He began with a poor explanation of why overpopulation occurs. While feeding by humans may have some localized impact, it is incorrect to assign the blame for the problem to it. Overpopulation occurs when the natural cycle of predation gets out of balance. When there is sufficient habitat and no predation, prey species get overpopulated. In the case of deer in the state parks, the lack of hunting and substantial initial habitat caused the boom in deer population. For geese, the reduction of habitat in the wild and the increase of retention ponds and other habitat in urban and suburban areas shifted the population. The lack of predation, mostly through human hunting, in these areas takes the control away.
The propaganda by the Humane Society of the United States is so clearly anti-hunting that I am shocked Hess used it as support in his column.
He also used the emotionally charged and incorrect word "slaughtering" in his description of deer hunts in the state parks. That word evokes images of gunning down Bambi as he looks at you for a handout.
John Scifres
Indianapolis
I had some issues with the story when I read it. I guess I wasn't the only one as heres one readers response in todays Star...
www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060716/SPORTS/607160473&SearchID=73251545363319
Todays response from reader...
Poor explanation of issues pertaining to goose control
Re: Skip Hess' July 16 column. While I appreciate his effort to inform readers of some of the issues of goose control, the method and tone were worrisome.
He began with a poor explanation of why overpopulation occurs. While feeding by humans may have some localized impact, it is incorrect to assign the blame for the problem to it. Overpopulation occurs when the natural cycle of predation gets out of balance. When there is sufficient habitat and no predation, prey species get overpopulated. In the case of deer in the state parks, the lack of hunting and substantial initial habitat caused the boom in deer population. For geese, the reduction of habitat in the wild and the increase of retention ponds and other habitat in urban and suburban areas shifted the population. The lack of predation, mostly through human hunting, in these areas takes the control away.
The propaganda by the Humane Society of the United States is so clearly anti-hunting that I am shocked Hess used it as support in his column.
He also used the emotionally charged and incorrect word "slaughtering" in his description of deer hunts in the state parks. That word evokes images of gunning down Bambi as he looks at you for a handout.
John Scifres
Indianapolis