THEY’VE TAKEN OUR CHILDREN AWAY

She almost literally cried her eyes out…..

These are the emotional words of Gerry Kruse as he describes his friend Laura’s reaction to the couple’s encounter with a Michigan DNR employee, whose enforcement of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, albeit lawful, was nothing short of overzealous and insensitive when they rescued two orphaned goslings.

Although the MBTA affords Canada geese “protection” in the sense that possession is illegal without first obtaining a permit from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Service makes room for the caring public to come to the aid of migratory birds in need of assistance. This is evidenced by the Service’s licensing of wildlife re-habilitation centers. But like many members of the general public, Gerry and Laura were unaware of MBTA rules and regulations and the DNR employee wasn’t about to make room for ignorance; instead, he chose to exercise his authority without consideration for the compassionate feelings, which led Gerry and Laura to rescue the goslings in the first place. By not granting the couple the opportunity to take the orphaned goslings to a wildlife re-habilitation center his motive is suspect, since it’s highly unlikely the couple would have shunned the opportunity, disobeyed the law and risked the gosling’s welfare for self-gratifying purposes.

In my opinion, there is only one explanation for the DNR employee’s lack of consideration. He is employed by a pro-hunting agency with close ties to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, who manages wildlife for profit, i.e. garners revenue through the sale of hunting licenses. Consequently, I believe he saw and seized an opportunity to remand the orphaned goslings to a state or national wildlife refuge where the blood sport of hunting is permitted.

If there is a lesson to be learned from Gerry and Laura’s horrid experience with the Michigan DNR, it’s to know the true motive behind the government’s wildlife management practices and act accordingly to help guarantee that our orphaned wildlife does, indeed, have a second chance at life. (this story was submitted to the Coalition to Prevent the Destruction of Canada Geese and is being published with permission)