Mr. Scott Gilmore
Executive Director
Denver Dept. of Parks & Recreation
Re: Canada Geese
Dear Mr. Gilmore:
As a former resident of Colorado (born at General Rose Memorial Hospital), I was extremely distressed to learn of the Denver Park & Rec’s plans to round up and slaughter the local population of Canada geese. I say this as someone who is not uninformed about some of the “inconveniences” this particular form of wildlife shares with human inhabitants of urban and suburban environments. I worked in an office park with a human-made lake that attracted many Canada geese. They wandered the campus, honked, and led their chicks around the grounds during the Spring. Their droppings presented a challenging obstacle course as we wheeled our laptops into the building each morning; but the pavements were washed down regularly and, on balance, the presence of the geese added a bucolic touch and a pleasant distraction during the day in an otherwise sterile planned environment. We co-existed quite happily…with a little bit of effort. To limit the inconvenience and attendant costs of the birds’ droppings, Corporate Real Estate chose to oil the birds’ eggs rather than kill existing fowl.
When most Americans think of Colorado, they conjure images of the great outdoors, stunning landscapes and wildlife, and a general appreciation and celebration of nature. Intentional and cruel destruction of wildlife is not part of that image, but certainly will be if you proceed with your ill-considered plan. Please consider whether you want to be known as the folks who “paved Paradise and put up a parking lot” or the ones who worked with nature, instead of trying to dominate it. Rocky Mountain High? Or Rocky Mountain High Crime Against Nature?
There are several organizations ready and willing to help you manage the geese compassionately and nonviolently. I urge you to work with them and learn from them.
Sincerely,
Wendy Oschmann
Pinole, CA