SHELBY TOWNSHIP, Mich. – A Shelby Township woman is raising concerns after the township’s Board of Trustees renewed a resolution supporting a state program that calls for destroying Canada Goose nests and removing the birds.
The measure supports the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ Canada Goose Nest Destruction Program and Roundup/Removal Program.
Six of the board’s seven members voted in favor of the motion.
The resolution is intended to help address complaints about what some residents see as an overpopulation of Canada geese in the area.
“I was devastated,” Megan Magid, an animal advocate, said. “It broke my heart. They’re beautiful. I see them around; they don’t disturb anybody. The only time they hiss is if they’re trying to protect wildlife and their babies.”
The DNR previously operated a capture-and-euthanasia program for geese but paused that effort last year.
While Magid opposes anything happening to the geese, opinions among other residents are mixed.
Some people who spoke with Local 4 said the geese do not bother them and would only support removal if the geese were harming other animals.
Others backed the program, saying the birds are too aggressive and leave feces everywhere.
Local 4 reached out to the township to get more information about the resolution and program.
The township’s community relations director said this is the third time the Board of Trustees has renewed the resolution, and referred specific questions about its implementation to the DNR.
That agency said it is working to provide more information about how the nest destruction and removal program operates and how many geese have been removed from Shelby Township in past years.
Magid said she believes there are nonlethal ways to reduce conflicts between people and geese.
“One way people could reduce having aggressive run-ins with the Canada geese is by giving them their space when in public areas,” Magid said.