From:
Gilmore, Scott M. - DPR Dpty Mgr Parks And Recreation
[Scott.Gilmore@denvergov.org]
Sent: Wednesday, July 08, 2020 10:46 PM
To: Karen Davis
Cc:
Gilmore, Scott M. - DPR Dpty Mgr Parks And Recreation;
Karvaski, Cynthia A. - DPR Marketing Commun Splst;
Vargas-Madrid, Vicki A. - DPR Pgm Admin;
Salazar, Alan B. - MO MA2952 Executive
Subject:
RE: [EXTERNAL] FW: Thank you for your attention
Hello Ms. Davis,
I had received your e-mail but have been working through responding to the e-mails and talking to individuals who have been calling me as my e-mail and cell phone number were posted on numerous Facebook pages and web sites. It has been great as I spoke to over 30 or so people and all except one, after speaking to me understands the incredibly difficult decision that this was for me. Just so you know I grew up in Denver and I take an incredible amount of pride in managing one of the most amazing park departments in the world. I am a wildlife biologist that worked for Colorado Parks and Wildlife for over 18 years teaching people about the environment and natural resources. I am of African-American heritage and when hired by Colorado Parks and Wildlife I was only the second African American biologist they had ever hired in their 100 year history. I co-founded an environmental education organization ( www.elkkids.org) over 20 years ago that introduces children of color and their families to the great outdoors and associated careers that they might pursue in the natural resources field. I am a board member of the National Wildlife Federation, the nation’s largest wildlife conservation organization. I represent Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico and have proudly served in this capacity for over three years. I tell you these things to educate you that I take very seriously the decision I have had to make managing wildlife and parks in Denver. This has been one of the hardest decision I have had to make in this position but I am managing ecosystems and not single species. I have included below the information that we have been providing members of the community to try to be a transparent as possible. Hope after you review this information you will see that we have been and will continue to employ non-lethal methods to manage the goose population in Denver.
Thank you for reaching out to Denver Parks and Recreation (DPR) about the management of geese in the City and County of Denver. DPR’s goal is to establish and maintain healthy park habitats and help restore natural patterns that allow vegetation and diverse animal species to thrive, including working with state and federal authorities to protect our shared resources from the damaging effects of over-population. With populations of nesting resident geese continuing to escalate in the Denver area, research and data suggests that multiple management strategies be used to address the resulting ongoing issues in urban parks. All information, including answers to frequently asked questions about Denver Parks and Recreation’s Resident Goose Damage Management Program can be found on our website: https://www.denvergov.org/content/denvergov/en/denver-parks-and-recreation/trees-natural-resources/wildlife.html
Denver Parks and Recreation (DPR) Resident Goose Damage Management Program (PDF)
Q&A: DPR Wildlife Management & Geese (PDF)
2020 Summary & Recommendations: Canada Goose Management in Denver Parks (PDF)
USDA Wildlife Services Annual Report | Canada Goose Management in Denver, 2019 (PDF)
Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s (CPW) Colorado Resident Canada Goose Management Plan (PDF)
Sincerely,
Scott Gilmore
Scott Gilmore | Deputy Executive Director
Parks & Recreation | City and County of Denver
720.913.0665 Phone | 720.837.0489 Cell
Scott.Gilmore@denvergov.org