Goose kill scheduled for Tri-Lakes, opponents want more options

Some call it "population control" and others call it a "slaughter." Whatever the name, Whitley County Commissioners said they have no part in the Tri-Lakes goose-kill dispute.

“We're not involved in it,” said Commissioner Michael Schrader. “We have no legal authority to be involved in it so at this point and time, it's just an issue between the group of people concerned about it and the Tri-Lakes Property Owners Association.”

The Tri-Lakes Property Owners Association decided last July to control the goose population by euthanasia and re-locating hundreds of birds. Members told NewsChannel15 they have tried different methods in the past and they didn’t work. They said they voted on the goose kill last year in a meeting that was open to the public.

Opponents at Monday's Commissioner’s meeting said they didn’t know anything about a vote and have since tried to get in touch with the Owner’s Association to no avail. They want other population control options to be explored.

A facebook page called “Squawk Back” has been set up for those against the Goose Kill and has more than 500 members.

Sharmayn Davis said she hasn’t noticed a problem with the number of geese, but even if there was a problem, she wouldn’t support a kill.

“Noise makers; let your pet chase them, whatever. I don't see what you have to kill them. I live at the lake because I like the wildlife, that's why I'm there,” she said.

Tri-Lakes Board members said the facebook page isn’t an accurate depiction because many of the members aren’t property owners at the lakes. They said they aren’t against the geese. They just believe there are too many and their waste in the water and in their yards is a health hazard.

“I love the geese, too. I don't have a problem so much if I only had a few geese, but if there's 50 or 100 geese in the yard, yes I have a problem with that,” said resident and Brown Lake Board member, Priscilla Peters.

Critter Control is in charge of the kill which is scheduled to take place sometime in June. The birds are molting this time of year and are unable to fly. The adult geese will be euthanized and the younger goslings will be caught and relocated.