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5a 2001 Goose Removal ReportCITYOF CHAN SEN 690 City Center Drive PO Box 147 Cl;anhassen, ?/linnesota 55317 Phone 952.9321900 Gert eral Fax 952. 937, 5739 £ngineering Department Fax 952.9329152 Building Department 952. 934. 2524 ~,b Site ~ 't'lPl~~. ~'l'. ~'hdHhfl. ssen. niH. MEMORANDUM TO: Park and Recreation Commission FROM: Todd Hoffman, Park and Recreation Director DATE: October 16, 2001 SUB J: 2001 Goose Removal Annual Report Attached please find the 2001 annual report on the Metropolitan Twin Cities Canada Goose management and research activities. Only 60 geese were trapped and removed from Chanhassen sites in 2001. This low removal rate is indicative of an overall Canada goose population decline in the Metropolitan area. Due to the low removal numbers, our per goose removal cost increased dramatically to $54.50 per goose. Traditionally the costs have averaged $20.00 to $25.00 per goose. Goose cornplaint calls were almost non-existent this past summer. I will take any questions commissioners may have on Tuesday night. G:\park\th\goosereInovalannualreport01 Tl,~ £itv of ('l,~,,l,,~¢a, 4 ~'o~,i~v conmumit~, with c/em lTkes aua[itl, ~d~ooh a cham~im~ do~m~town t/,'hdn~ businesses, and beaut#id aark~. A vreat o/ace to h't,e, warh. a,d ~[~ THE CANADA GOOSE PROJECT Dedicated to Urban Canada Goose Research and Management ; ~_ ~ ..- Wednesday, September 26, 2001 /O/~ ~X[JU~ ~ RECE'VED ~~ OCT i Mr. Todd Hoffman Park And Recreation Coordinator City Of Chanhassen 690 Coulter Drive Chanhassen, MN 55317 Crl'Y OF CHANHASSEN Dear Todd: Attached is the annual report on the Metropolitan Twin Cities Canada goose management and research activities. The report contains an overview of the 2001 season and updates on goose meat contaminant research, potential public health impacts of goose droppings, the return of relocated adult geese to the Twin Cities, and other management issues. We trapped and removed the following number of geese from Chanhassen sites in 2001: Site Date Young Adults Total Lake Minnewashta 6/25/2001 14 3 17 Lotus Lake 7/9/2001 22 11 33 Near Mountain Blvd 7/3/2001 6 4 10 Total 42 18 60 Attached is an invoice for the 2001 surveys and/or removal services. We appreciate being able to assist you with your goose management needs and look forward to working with you and the City of Chanhassen in the future. We in the process of moving the office to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' Carlos Avery Game Farm in Forest Lake. Our leased Carlos facilities will permit much improved equipment repair, maintenance, and storage for the summer field operations, facilitate better goose care, and allow for closer day-to-day coordination with the DNR. We will have the computer and phone systems installed by early spring. In the meanwhile, if you have questions, please feel free to contact me at 651-644-6206 or email me at jac@fw.umn.edu. Sincerely yours, Dr.~e~s A. Cooper Professor Emeritus, University of Minnesota Director of the Canada Goose Project 2 THE CANADA GOOSE PROJECT Dedicated to Urban Canada Goose Research and Management INVOICE Wednesday, September 26, 2001 Canada Goose Removal Services Mr. Todd Hoffman Park And Recreation Coordinator City Of Chanhassen 690 Coulter Drive Chanhassen, MN 55317 2001 Canada Goose Removal Services Three sites at $1,000 per site 18 adult geese at $15 per bird processing cost Total $3,000 270 $3,270 Please make check payable to The Canada Goose Project and mail to: The Canada Goose Project 2195 Dudley Ave. St. Paul, MN 55108 Thank you. THE.. CANADA GOOSE PRO,JECT Dedicated to Urban Canada Goose Research and Management 2001 PROGRAM REPORT The 2001 program differed from all previous seasons dating back to 1982. Instead of an ultra busy 5-week trapping period, we encountered significantly fewer birds, down 48% compared to 2000. Going into the summer, I anticipated about a 10-15% decline in 2001 birds trapped, based on the recent leveling out of the number of goose damage complaint sites and a declining mean number of geese trapped per site. The magnitude and timing of the spring rains also were such that a poorer than normal hatch was expected. However, the level of population decline this summer was still surprising. In the 32 years I have studied Canada geese breeding in temperate climates, I have never seen such low production. Trapping--In 2001, geese were trapped at 98 sites and 3,499 geese (2,335 goslings and 1,164 adults) were removed, compared to 145 sites and 6,738 birds (4,696 young 2,042 adults) in 2000 (Table 1 and Figure 1). While flooding destroyed many nests, the number of young geese hatched per nesting female was depressed slightly from the high production ratios of recent years (Figure 3). We also trapped a total of 62 adult geese from 30 locations for the goose contaminant study. The 2001 crews caught 96.9% of all flightless geese they attempted to trap, a 2.2% decrease from last year (Figure 4). The difference was a result of the wider than normal range in gosling age. The lower nest success this spring resulted in more re-nesting, and consequently more late-hatched young. Because older goslings move faster than newly hatched ones, the groups were more difficult to catch. The driving of mixed-aged families groups required checking the movements of older goslings so that smaller ones can keep up, and the added pressure on the older family groups resulted in more escapes. Mortality during trapping was again very low (Table 1). Only one adult goose died during trapping and transport activities, and no birds were captured with pre-existing injuries so serious that they had to be humanely killed. Trap injuries were also low, 0.19%. Of the 1,043 adults transported to the processing plant, only one died. Goose population ~hanges--As in 2000, most trapping sites were ones done the previous year, while the proportion of new sites declined slightly (Figures 5a and 5b). In contrast, the number of sites that had been done two or more years ago declined from 14 to 3%. Undoubtedly the poor nest success masked the anticipated modest decreases in the number of geese trapped and the requests for goose removal. Yet, indicators such as the mean number of geese trapped per site (Figure 2), and the number of new damage sites reported (Figure 6), suggest a long-term trend of a slow decline in the number geese within the core of the Twin Cities. Crews trapped and removed the 70,000th goose during the last week of the 2001 capture. While this milestone is a minor one, it is cause to reflect on what level the Twin Cities Canada goose population might have reached in the absence of effective population management (Figure 7). Public Health and goose droppings--Research continues on pathogens in goose droppings and the likelihood of human disease from these organisms. Last year, I reviewed the in-depth study by Feare et al. (1999) conducted in London, England. That study found E. coli and Salmonella sp. remained viable in Canada goose droppings for at least one month. Because fecal material was readily transfered to human hands by handling of soccer and other game balls, the authors concluded that bacteria present in waterfowl droppings constitute a potential health risk to humans using parkland for recreation activities, and further concluded ...that Canada geese may pose more of a risk than other common species. In 2001, the National Wildlife Health Lab. published the results of a study of Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Virginia Canada goose droppings (Converse et al. (2001) Screening of potential human pathogens in fecal material deposited by resident Canada ~,mn~d~ ~nnq~ Prni~nt lZ~pnnrt 9hi'If o geese in areas of public utility, http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/pub/ canada_goose_report.html). Salmonella, Listeria, Chlamydia, Cryptosporidium, Giardia, and Rotavirus were detected in the droppings, but not Escherichia coli serotype O157:H7 or Campylobacter. Both bacteria and viruses were isolated from droppings after 24 hours and after 5 days with significantly lower levels at 5 days. They concluded that the iow frequency of positive cultures indicates the risk of humans to disease through contact with Canada goose feces appeared to be minimal at the four sites'[studied]. However, unlike Feare et al., these authors did not discuss human epidemiology or cite any risk analysis literature supporting their conclusion. Hopefully further research will clarify the potential public health risks of goose concentrations. In the meantime, I still believe it is prudent to advise people of the possibility of contracting disease from goose droppings. Children and people with weakened immune systems should wash their hands after handling items, such as soccer balls, that come in contact with goose droppings. Washing is particularly important before eating. Parents of small children who put their hands in their mouths should be advised to not allow their youngsters to play in areas with goose droppings. Return of relocated adult geese--The results of two recent relocations of adult Canada geese trapped in the Twin Cities were analyzed in the past year. Talcot Lake Wildlife Management Area relocaton--In 1995, a study was initiated in response to criticism of the proposed 1996 processing of adult geese, in order to address the question "Why can't adult Twin Cities geese be released in Minnesota?" Two hundred neckbanded adult geese trapped at or near Twin Cities sites surveyed weekly in fall were relocated to the Talcot Lake Wildlife Management Area (WMA) on July 11, 1995 and released. Weekly neckband observations were made from September 1 to December 31, 1995-2000. Additional band recovery data were obtained from June 1 to July 30 from goose trapping results and the Bird Banding Laboratory records. Over the 1995-2000 period, 138 of the 200 neckbanded adults (69%) were observed or trapped in the Twin Cities. Based on the survival rate computed from neckband encounters, an estimated 93±6% of the relocated geese returned to Twin Cities (Table 2). Obviously, the widely held opinion of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) managers that a within-state relocation of adults would not work was correct. Airport geese--In 1997, a group of geese being used in a cooperative study of lead persistence became the focus of a legal action between US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). The USF~S negotiated a transfer and relocation of the birds to the Choctaw Indian Reservation in Oklahoma (see attached Minneapolis Star Tribune articles). The underlying issue was that many of the geese were trapped at Twin Cities airport sites and that given the rate of return of Twin Cities geese relocated to Oklahoma in the 1980s, it was likely that these birds would return to the Twin Cities and continue to be a hazard to aircraft. In spite of the warning, the 260 geese were banded, relocated and released. The band series (788-08601-700, 788-08701-800, & 788- 08801-900) used on the birds was known because they were transferred from my permit to that of the USFWS. Since the relocation, my crews have trapped and removed geese at the airport sites each summer and recorded the bands present. In addition, legbands were occasionally read at airport survey sites. To date, we have removed or read 29 legbands (11%) from the HSUS-relocated birds. Using the 77% survival rate computed by Aldrich et al. (1998) for Twin Cities geese relocated to Oklahoma in the 1980s, I estimate that 21% of the birds returned (Table 3). I believe the actual return rate was at least double this estimate, or in the range of 40%. The reasoning behind this statement is based on the results of the Talcot relocation. While I used neckband observations to compute the survival and return rates (Table 4), summer captures and band records were collected in the same manner as for the 1997 Oklahoma birds. The computed return rate for the Talcot geese based solely on legband data was 54±4%(Table 4), 58% of the 93% return rate based on neckbands. If the trapping rate for the Choctaw birds was similar to that of the Talcot geese--there is no reason to suspect it was not--than the actual return of the Choctaw geese was somewhere in the 40% range. The Choctaw return rate was similar to two of the three relocations to Oklahoma in 1980s (42%, 80%, and 42% returns for Twin Cities birds relocated to Oklahoma in 1982, 1984, and 1985, respectively). These results clearly indicate that existing data were not used to establish the risk the Choctaw relocation Canada Goose Proiect IReoort 2001 4 posed to airport safety, and that decision was based on "assurances" from HSUS rather than scientific data available at the time. Lead study results--Since southern states stopped requesting adult Metro geese for relocation in 1996, adult geese have been processed and donated to the Twin Cities food shelves. To date, more than 12,000 birds have been donated, totaling 96,00~ pounds of goose meat. In 1995, a goose meat contaminants (lead, PCB, and insecticides) monitoring program was implemented with the MNDNR and my staff as part of the food shelf program. While contaminant levels found were within consumption limits, the MNDNR and I agreed that additional research on lead and PCBs was needed. Lead was of concern because the element is widespread in soils, due to the past use of lead in gasoline, and because citizens using the food shelves, particularly children living in homes with lead- based paint, were suspected of having higher than normal lead exposure. PCBs bio-accumulate, have a long half-life (1 year), and therefore may build up in the fatty tissues of long-lived animals such as geese. In 2000, blood lead levels in 183 adults sampled from within a one-mile radius of 25 hazardous waste sites, including federal Superfund and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency hazardous waste sites. The lead concentrations averaged 0.05 PPM, no lead was detected (<0.05 PPM) in 162 birds (89%), 18 geese (10%) had lead above the detection level but less than the typical lead background level for Canada geese (0.18 PPM), while 3 birds (1%) had higher levels (022, 0.27, 0.28 PPM). Blood lead was used because it is easier to analyze and blood measurements are the primary parameter published in the scientific literature. We also believe that the blood levels to be representative of muscle concentrations because lead is soluble in acids and muscles produce lactic acid. The Minnesota Department of Health, which regulates food consumption advisories, requested that we verify the muscle-blood lead assumption. This summer we analyzed the breast muscles of the 21 birds showing detectable lead in their blood and 10 randomly select breast muscle samples from birds showing no blood lead. Mean muscle lead concentrations for the 31 geese was also 0.05 PPM and ranged from 0.01 to 0.17 PPM. Because the mean lead detected was not statistically different for blood and muscle, we believe that lead in Twin Cities geese is very iow and not of concern. Funding constraints delayed the additional PCB analysis until 2002. Goose pasturing--Due to the low number of birds captured this summer, relocation sites were found for the goslings. However, next year I predict we will trap 3,500-4,000 young geese, and the likelihood of relocating all of the young is uncertain. If these birds cannot be relocated, it is proposed that they be pastured 0r fed until they can be processed. In 1995, 650 birds (500 adults and 150 immatures) maintained normal weight growth on a 50-acre bluegrass pasture from August 1 to November 1. Using these data and a conservative carrying capacity of 10 birds/acre, a minimum of 400 acres would be needed to pasture 4,000 geese. An elk pasture was used in 1995. Elk ranches appear to have the greatest promise for pasturing geese because of the predator-proof fences. To determine if there was sufficient elk rancher interest in pasturing geese and if the acreage available would be adequate for 4,000 goslings, a survey was conducted this spring. A questionnaire was mailed to 150 Elk Breeders Association members (those within 150 miles of the Twin Cities) asking if they were interested in renting pasture for geese. Seven ranchers (5%) responded: two indicating that they had pasture to rent in 2001 and five saying that they might have pasture to rent in 2002. The pasture acreage ranged from 10 to 40 acres, while the ranch locations varied from close (Chisago City) to distant (La Crescent). The limited availability of rental pastures combined with the logistics of such a program has caused me to rethink the option. Two factors are paramount: the likelihood of a summer drought and the difficulty of coordinating the placement of geese at widely separated small pastures. A drought similar to that of this summer would make pasturing unworkable and require supplemental feeding of the geese. An alternative being considered is the feeding of the birds until they can be processed. In 1995, 125 geese were fed in a 1.5 ha pen until September. These birds were then processed and, because of an abundance of pinfeathers, packaged as whole breasts and legs. The feeding and labor cost per bird was $6, the same as the cost of pasturing from July to November. Another option would be to reduce the number of goslings handled by destroying eggs in spring. While egg destruction is not cost effective in general, there are sites where the costs might be similar to summer removal. Relatively isolated breeding sites where most of the nesting is on islands, for example Lake of the Isles in Minneapolis, would be good candidates. While there are only six such Twin Cities sites of this type, they collectively produce about 500.goslings each year. Airport nests--Included in the summary data, are the number of nests and eggs destroyed and geese shot as part of the goose hazard reduction effort at the Minneapolis St. Paul International and Downtown St. Paul Airports (Table 5). In summary, we had an excellent trapping program in 2001, but one .that did not stretch our staff or resources like 2000. I'm looking forward to the return of normal weather in 2002 and will be retaining staff to address all requests for goose management. If you have questions, please feel free to contact me at 651- 644-6206 or email me at jac@fw.umn.edu. ~n~rt~ Gnn.~. Prnjg. nt R~nnrt 20~)1 Table I. Immature (I) and adult Canada geese (A) removed from the Twin Cities of Minnesota, and mortality during trapping and transport, 1982-2001. Year I A Total Mortality Percent I A Total 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 195' 0 361 507 636 740 1,714 1 680 1 766 1 685 3 005 2 224 2 834 4 747 3,982 3 978 5 183 4 25O 4 696 2,335 261 0 492 396 379 375 864 1,294 1,054 1,196 1,248 1,083 1 .'352 2189 2256 I 676 2 395 1 925 2 042 1,164 456 2 0 2 0.44 0 0 0 0 0.00 853 0 0 0 0.00 903 1 1 2 0.22 1,015 2 0 2 0.30 1,115 1 0 1 0.09 2,578 1 1 2 0.08 2,974 2 1 3 0.10 2,820 1 0 1 0.03 2,881 3 1 4 0.14 4,253 2 1 3 0.07 3,307 2 1 3 0.09 4,186 i 1 2 0.05 6,936 6 2 8 0.12 6,239 1 1 2 0.03 5,642 1 0 1 0.03 7,578 2 1 3 0.04 6,175 0 1 1 0.02 6,738 4 1 5 0.07 3,499 0 1 1 0.03 Totals 46,518 23,641 70,159 32 15 47 0.07 a a Percent mortality is less than i goose per 1,000 trapped and transported. Of the 47 geese that died, 31 were cuthanizcd clue to pre- existing injuries. 6ooo 4000 2000 0 YEAR Figure 1. Canada geese captured and removed from the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area, Minnesota, 1982-2001. 1000 100 - apped yE'AR Figure 2. Mean number of Canada geese captured per trap, Twin Cities Metropolitan Area, Minnesota, 1982-2001. Young Per Adult Young Per Brood Patch Female YEAR Figure 3. Canada goose productivity indices, Twin Cities Metropolitan Area, Minnesota, 1982-2001. lO0 99 98 97- 96- YEAR Figure 4. Flightless Canada goose trapping rates (percentage of flightless geese captured at all sites), Twin Cities Metropolitan Area, Minnesota, 1982- 2001. 2001 Canada Goose Removal Site Classes 78% 3% [] NEW [] LAST YEAR [] REPEAT Figure 5a. Status of 2001 Canada goose trap sites, Twin Cities Metropolitan Area, Minnesota. 2000 Canada Goose Removal Site Classes 14% 61% [] NEW [] LAST YEAR [] REPEAT Figure 5b. Status of 2000Canada goose trap sites, Twin Cities Metropolitan -' · ~ ~innesota. .-,, ea. v [] Complaints Year Figure 6. Damage complaints resulting from Canada, Twin Cities Metropolitan Area, Minnesota, reported during the 1982-2001 period. 4ooo4 [ti [] Food Bank Young 35001~I [] Food Bank Adults 30001~] ~soollI ~. ~ 2000 ' 1500 1000 . 5O0 0 Year Figure 7. Twin Cities Metropolitan Area Canada goose processed and delivered to Minneapolis- St. Paul Food Banks, 1996-2001. 350000 325000 300000 275000 250000 225000 200000 175000 150000 125000 100000 75000 50000' 25000- A = PROJECTED POPULATON GROWTH B= ACTUAL POPULATION CHANGE A y = 8.7861e-177 * 10^(9.0836e-2x) R^2 =4_9 ' 960 I 970 1 980 1 990 2000 20 Year P Figure 8. Projected Twin Cities Metropolitan Area Canada goose population growth (A) and1968, 1974, 1984, 1994, and 1999 population estimates (B). Table 2. Twin Cities Metropolitan Area observations of neckbanded Canada geese relocated from the Twin Cites to Talcot Lake WMA on 7/11/95, Kaplan-Meier (K/M) survival rates, and estimated number of birds returning to TCMA; 1995-2000. Period Geese Survival Estimated Percent Observed Rate (K/M) Population Return 1995-1996 113 0.80 ± 0.04 160±6 71±3% 1996-1997 22 0.57 ± 0.05 114±10 18±2% 1997-1998 3 0.40± 0.05 80±10 4±2% 1998-1999 1 0.32 ± 0.05 64±10 1±1% 1999-2000 0 0.15 ± 0.05 30±10 0% Total 138 93±6% KAPLAN, E. L., AND P. MEIER. 1958. Nonparametric estimation from incomplete observations. J. Am. Stat. Assoc. 53:457-481. Table 2. Twin Cities Metropolitan Area observations of neckbanded Canada geese relocated from the Twin Cites to Talcot Lake WMA on 7/11/95, Kaplan-Meier (K/M) survival rates, and estimated number of birds returning to TCMA, 1995-2000. Period Geese Survival Estimated Percent Observed Rate (K/M) Population Return 1995-1996 113 0.80 i 0.04 160±6 71±3% 1996-1997 22 0.57 ± 0.05 114±10 18±2% 1997-1998 3 0.40 i 0.05 80±10 4±2% 1998-1999 1 0.32 i 0.05 64!10 l!1% 1999-2000 0 0.15 i 0.05 30i10 0% Total 138 93±6% KAPLAN, E. L., AND P. MEIER. 1958. Nonparametric estimation from incomplete observations. J. Am. Sta~. Assoc. 53:457-481. Table 3 Leg-banded Canada geese relocated to the Choctaw Indian Reservation Oklahoma in 1997 and recaptured in the Twin Cities 1998-2001, and estimated percentage returning to Twin Cities in 1998-2002. Year ~Banded Geese Banded Percent Recaptured Geese Return 1998 1 260 0.4 1999 12 200 6.0 2000 13 154 8.4 2001 3 119 2.5 2002 2 92 2.1 (Projected 2003' 1 70 1.4 (Projected TOTAL 32 20.8 a Assuming 260 birds were banded and released; survival From Aldrich, J.W., C.M. Potter, J.L. Doff, And A.D. Stacy. 1998. Homesteading giant Canada geese in the Sooner State: Oklahoma's establishment program. Pages 311-317 in D.H., Rusch, M.D. Samuel, D.D. Humburg, and B.D. Sullivan. Eds. Biology and management of Canada geese. Proc. Int. Canada Goose Symp., Milwaukee, Wis. b Projected recaptures based on the 1998-2000 recapture rate. Table 4. Twin Cities Metropolitan Area recaptures of neckbanded Canada geese relocated from the Twin Cites to Talcot Lake WMA on 7/11/95 and the estimated percentage of birds returning to TCMA, 1995-2000. Year Recaptures Estimated Percent Population Return 1995 0 200±00 0±0% 1996 39 160±06 24±9% 1997 13 114±10 11±1% 1998 2 80±10 2±1% 1999 4 64±10 6.±3% 2000 3 30±i0 10±1% TOTAL 61 54±4% Table 5. 'Canada goose nests found, eggs destroyed, and geese shot, March-May, 2001. Location Nests Eggs Geese Bass Ponds 4 18 0 & Long Meadow Lake Gun Club Lake 0 0 0 North of I494 Gun Club Lake 0 0 0 South of I494 Legion Lake 2 13 1 Mother Lake 7 32 7 Richfield lake 2 8 1 Shelling Lake 0 0 0 Pickerel Lake 0 0 0 Upper Lake 0 0 0 Crosby Lake 0 0 0 a Wood Lake 14 63 ! Total 27 134 10 nests containing a total of 12 eggs were left at the · ~-e~!uest of the Wood Lake Nature Center Staff. Canada geese moving to Oklahoma The battle for the birds ends with approval for the Humane Society to relocate them. By Dean Rebuffoni Star Tribune Staff Writer. The five-month fight between animal protectionists and conser- vation officials over 280 captive Canada geese is over: The birds are to be relocated from Minne- sota to a Choctaw Indian reserva- tion in Oklahoma. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Ser- vice said Wednesday that it will allow the Humane Society of the United States to move the birds by truck within the next week. They were captured last summer near Minneapolis-St. Paul Inter- national Airport in an annual area roundup of nuisance geese and now are in pens at a state wildlife facility in Anoka County. "We've been given assurances by the Humane Society and the Choctaw Nation that the chance of these geese returning to Min- nesota is minimal,' said Bill ttartwig, the Wildlife Service's re- gional director. 'My concern with these par- ticular geese is one of 'airport safety," he said. 'These are birds that were identified as frequent- ing areas around the airport, and I don't want to see them back creating the same problems." Turn to BIRDS on B2 natural mortality to reduce the number of geese this winter. Their wings have been clipped, and they won't grow new flight feathers until next summer. Most of the geese still alive next spring presumably will nest on or near the southeastern OUaboma res- ervafion. John Grandy, senior x4ce presi- dent of the Humane Society, said the Wildlife Service will place bands on the geese tb try'to de- termine if some of them return to the Twin Cities. All told, almost 6,000 nuisance geese were captured in the area last summer. About 4,300 gos- lings were captured and relocated out of the area; 1,300 adult geese were slaughtered, and their meat was donated to fdod shelves. Most of the 280 remaining geese also were destined for food shelves before the Humane Soci- ety and two other groups sued to protect them. Although the three · · ' ' .:3;' ? . .'.~ .:: >.~ .~ .,'..'. ;. ~k.. ~.. .:'.'(~0'~' -% ~¥.,~.",,~l.~.;v~q'i:.'~ .' .... · ...~......: ~e ye been-wen mane oc e aowed .... tO OklahO ge ' ve ese to . .: . .' .~'..~. .. · ~.~- .'.~.~'~{~-~ .. Accord~g to ~e W~ife Set- group~ i~ti~y pr~afled'~':~a[ ~ce, Choctaw officials expect s~t,a feder~judgede~ek request that he order ~e ~fl~e'. safe release of the birds, i" '..,. That led to talks betwe{/n the agency and the Humane. Society and, in turn, the agreement to allow the geese to be relocated to Oklahoma. : About 100. of the birds have. received doses of lead as part of study by the University of Minne- sota and the state Departmenf of Natural Resources {DNR). The study is to determine the poten- tial toxicity to humans who eat geese, which can ingest the lead shot left over from hunting in areas used by the birds. The study's goal is to ensure that any geese given to food shelves are safe for consumption -- a concern raised by the Hu- mane Society.Ahhe I00 geese will be tested to determine the levels of lead in them. If elevated levels are found in any of the birds, they will be destroyed and disposed of san- geese retUrning to .Minnesota'is minimaL': -:- Bill Hartwtg, regio~l ffrecto,', U.'. Fish and W~dlffe Seoeice itarily, the Wildlife Serv/ce sai Geese with acceptable levels lead will join their 180 feather, friends for the trip to Oklahoma. Rick Duncan, a Minneapo; attorney wh'o represents the mai-protection groups, said th, will continue talks with the Wil, life Service and the DNR ~to t to develop a program that mizes lethal control of [nuisanc geese' in the tnetro area.