USDA Wildlife Services - Talking "Goose" Out of Both Sides of Mouth

The same day Carol Bannerman of the USDA was quoted as saying that the goose population presently in New York City is the same that is was in the entire country in 1970,

a colleague received this response when directly inquiring of a USDA official what the NYC goose population actually was:

 

Question: "Could you please advise whether you have an estimate of the total population of Canada geese in New York City?"

Answer:  "The New York State DEC is the management agency for Canada geese in the state and as such is the appropriate source for population estimates."

In other words, the USDA appears to be speaking out of both sides of its mouth.

When directly asked the goose population in NYC, they refer the questioner to another agency.  But, when talking to the press, they claim current and local goose numbers are the same as national figures 42 years ago.

Which is it?   USDA either has figures or they don't.

Perhaps USDA is simply very good at dishing out hyperbole and histrionics to the media since reporters rarely ask follow-up questions or proof of claims. But, when the public asks the same questions, they are given a runaround. Go ask someone else.

This is not the only instance where USDA seemingly speaks out of two sides of its mouth.

Over the past two years we have been subjected to hundreds of articles decrying the supposed "health threat" that geese pose to humans.  But, on the other hand, we are assured by the USDA and other agencies that the geese are perfectly "safe" to be eaten by humans. 

Which is it?

Are the geese toxic reservoirs for bacteria or are they a healthy food choice?

Or, perhaps it is only "dangerous" to step in bird droppings but perfectly safe to eat the same birds "fouling" up the lakes and grass?

Maybe it is only me.  But, I would not think that something that was loaded with bacteria and toxic to waterways and land would be the ideal food choice to "donate" to the poor. -- Unless of course, we don't really care about the long range health of the poor in our society.

Still, the far greatest accusation against geese and the one most likely to conjure up public fear and loathing is that the geese "bring down planes."

But, according to the Airports Council International of North America, a person's chance of dying as result of an aircraft/wildlife (any wildlife) collision is "one in 750 million."  Narrow that equation down to Canada geese alone and we are probably talking one in a billion or less.

Despite these unimaginable odds and statistics, the plan nevertheless is to virtually extirpate Canada geese in New York City.

Make no mistake about that if we go by the statement of Carol Bannerman of USDA.

Because the reality is, we did not have ANY geese in Central Park in 1970 and presumably not in the entire city.

And that appears to be the definitive goal now mapped out despite all claims to the contrary.

How can an agency claim after all that a bird population "will not be eliminated" if the same agency cannot provide reliable data on how many Canada geese actually exist in New York City now?  -- PCA

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