from:Ron Bomhoff <ronbomhoff@gmail.com>to:BoardofDirectors <bod@lop.org>
cc:LOP GM <gm@lop.org>
date:Jul 30, 2023, 2:33 PMsubject:RCG Managementmailed-by:gmail.comsigned-by:gmail.comsecurity: Standard encryption (TLS) Learn more:Important according to Google magic.
RCG Management
TO: LOP BOD,
As mentioned at the evening with the GM on 7/25/2023, Pine Mountain Lake Association has written a Canada Geese Management Plan that is very complete and it is a plan that the LOP Wildlife Management Service Team should learn and follow. It deals with what works and what doesn't work. From my 15 years of trying to solve the Resident Canada Geese overpopulation problem I can wholeheartedly agree with their procedures and conclusions.
The only suggestion I have to their plan is that the best time to use lethal methods is in February before the nests are started. If you eliminate the nesting pairs,you will have no eggs to collect.This was proven in 2020 when 74 geese were taken in February. That year there were very few eggs to treat. If this had been done in February this year, we could have avoided having to potentially kill 3-month old geese and shut down the lake during prime use time by our community. Both of which were unpopular.
Having a clear plan in place that we follow makes it easier to defend and maintain our Depredation Permit and makes us less vulnerable to lawsuits and misinformation being spread in our community.
That being said, the other suggestion that I have would be to keep meticulous records of your non-lethal (hazing etc) methods and egg treating. When you can provide clear data to back up your claims it shuts down the opportunity for misconceptions. It is also helpful to have when requesting a renewal of the Depredation Permit. A clear plan and documentation allows for consistent information to be given to the community and less chance of giving conflicting statements.
Along those lines, I would caution you to be careful with the integrity of the information that you do share. Examples, 1) we know that most of the lakefront property owners do allow us onto their properties and that the nests aren’t really hard to find. 2) Sean said that you just got word on Friday, 7/21, that you could shoot. In August of 2022, you got an email from USFWS that you could shoot under the 2020 Depredation Permit. In September of 2022, the Board passed a motion for continuing authority for the WMST to cull 80 geese a year. There was no action taken on that order until last week. 3) Sean mentioned a 20 page brief. This means that someone has filed a lawsuit in Superior Court. I can not find anything on the court docket that mentions LOP. It is statements like that which make people start to ask questions. It is difficult not to call out those non-truths but so as not to give anyone ammunition against LOPA, I am only sharing this with you as a cautionary measure . Nobody supports controlling the RCG population more than myself.
In closing, the GM mentioned that he would reach out to me to help be part of an informational campaign to help get the word on what people should be looking for (finding nests and eggs). I agree that educating the membership should be a priority. I would be happy to help share the knowledge I have acquired over the past 15 years to help educate our community. I am also available to consult to review the Pine Mountain Lake Management plan and help adapt it to our needs if you decide to create a RCG Management Plan for LOPA. Please let me know if this is something you also feel would be valuable for the community and would like my assistance.
As always - Members First,
Ron Bomhoff
Please click here to access the Pine Mountain Lake Canada Geese Management Plan
