Laserfiche WebLink
Substitute Bill No. 16 -60 <br />RESOLUTION NO. H 5 2) Z,- I 1p <br />A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE <br />CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, RECOMMENDING THAT INTEGRATED AND MULTIFACETED <br />APPROACHES BE PUBLICLY DISCUSSED AND FURTHER DEVELOPED WHICH ADDRESS <br />CANADA GEESE <br />G,A" the South Bend Common Council notes that the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) <br />currently employs 214 conservation officers "who serve the public and protect the natural Hoosier heritage of the <br />State of Indiana" who are trained in specialty areas in a variety of the enforcement and non - enforcement activities; <br />and the DNR also employs Wildlife Biologists assigned to specific regions throughout the state who work as field <br />biologists within the DNR, Division of Fish and Wildlife; and <br />C*Lw4 the Canada goose is part of a large wild goose species which is native to arctic and temperate <br />regions of North America, experienced a declining population due to the use of chemicals and excessive hunting, <br />whose population is now rebounded after captive birds were released throughout the country increasing their <br />presence often in urban areas especially where there is mowed grass and increased use of retention ponds; and <br />6, airports throughout the country have developed long -term strategies to reduce conditions that may <br />attract geese to airports. For example, the Chicago Department of Aviation continues to practice habitat <br />management plans designed to "manipulate the landscape to deter wildlife ". Midway and O'Hare Airports also <br />focus on storm water drainage and wild -life resistant fences which are designed so that they do not attract nesting <br />birds; and <br />6� scientific studies have shown that "goose droppings do not pose any special health threats" <br />according to the Humane Society of the United States, with the HSUS publishing Solving Problems with Canada <br />Geese — A Management Plan and Information Guide available at: <br />ht!p://www.humanesociety.org/assets/pdfs/wild neighbors / canada goose uide.pdf; and <br />6ffema4 HSUS has developed "Synergy" where "effective plans get synergy from combing two or three <br />Key Components — curtailing reproduction, site aversion, and habitat modification" with "effective goose <br />management programs typically following a seasonal timeline" which also include complementary components: <br />"Tolerance Zones; Public Education, and Stop Feeding ", with HSUS stressing that: <br />"Conflicts between people and Canada. geese will be resolved by individuals and communities that care about the <br />birds, the environment, and the well -being of their communities..."; and <br />G," the Indiana Department of Natural Resources website: <br />http:// www .in.gov /dnr /fishwild /3000.htm# notes that the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 authorized the <br />Department of the Interior's Fish and Wildlife Service oversight "to manage and regulate the harvest of migratory <br />birds in the United States ". Additionally there are four international treaties in place with Canada, Mexico, Japan <br />and Russia which make it illegal "to harvest waterfowl or other migratory birds except during the hunting season <br />or by permit "; and <br />