What can be done?

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Snow geese are birds principally of central and western North America. All snow geese that fly through North Dakota each spring and fall are part of the Mid-continent population. LaPerouse Bay on the west coast of Hudson Bay has been the site of extensive research sicne 1968.

The road to resolution of the snow goose issue can take two major paths. The first do nothing, was rejected by virtually all in attendance at Oak Hammock. The second - do something - is the direction given the work group.

This is a complex and diff'icult issue. In fact, resolution of the snow goose overpopulation problem and resultant longterm impacts to critical arctic habitat is likely the largest single ecological issue ever faced by wildlife managers.

Snow geese are an international resource - a migratory game bird. As such, their management - especially hunting - is regulated by international treaties. The most significant of these is the Migratory Bird Treaty Act between the U.S. and Canada, established in 1916.

This treaty has "inspired" conservation efforts in both countries and ultimately has led to the excellent condition of any of our migratory game bird populations. Hunters played an important role in these conservation efforts and will need to continue that role in solving the snow goose problem.

Snow geese have social, economic and ecological value. It is not likely that any management strategy inconsistent with these values will be implemented. Though it may be necessary to use drastic measures for snow goose population control strategies in the luture, for the good of the resource(s), initial strategies will likely preserve the intrinsic value of the birds. To do otherwise would be highly controversial, and probably unacceptable from an ethical point of view.

Nevertheless, any management action designed to significantly reduce snow goose populations is likely to be controversial. A broad range of interests across the United States, Canada and Mexico will need to understand the serious and complex nature of the problem. These interests will need to understand that it is appropriate for wildlife agencies to address this problem, and be convinced that these agencies understand and are sympathetic with their concerns. Without successful communications, concerned interests are not likely to allow significant management actions to take place.

Initial management strategies will likely be aimed at increasing sport and subsistence harvest of snow geese. Both activities involve taking birds that are generally used as food.

Arctic residents have harvested snow geese and their eggs for thousands of years. Most of this harvest takes place in the spring. In fall and winter, from Canada to Mexico, snow geese provide important hunting recreation to hundreds of thousands of sportsmen. These birds also provide significant food for humans.

Actions could be taken to aid northern residents in harvesting and distributing snow geese for food. However, most snow goose colonies are not near human settlements and transportation is difficult and expensive.

Hunters could be aided by allowing use of new and old hunting tools and techniques (such as electronic calls) that are currently illegal because of their effectiveness.

How large would the harvest have to be to control the population? That is the subject of Dr. Rockwell's section of the work group report and is not yet complete. However, indications are that a significant population reduction would require a harvest of perhaps two to three times the current level.

There has been much discussion about the potential for a spring snow goose hunt. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act outlawed spring hunting in the early part of this century. The treaty allows hunting of migratory game birds for no more than three and one-half months (107 days) between September l and March 10. Hunting seasons already take place from September l to March l 0 in areas from the arctic to the Gulf Coast. Recently, hunting has been allowed until March l 0 as far north as southern Nebraska and Iowa. Hunting will be allowed through March l 0, 1997 throughout the Mississippi and Central Flyways (except, the Rainwater Basin of Nebraska) during the upcoming waterfowl season.

While a spring hunt would likely increase harvest, it probably won't happen soon. Some believe the Migratory Bird Treaty Act must be amended before any type of spring "hunt" could be allowed. The Treaty has only been amended once since 1916, and that process took 15 years. Conceivably, the U.S. and Canadian governments could find a way to make this work, if resolution of the snow goose issue became a priority.

Other management possibilities include action to reduce refuge and agricultural food supplies, which increase survival rates throughout migratory and winter ranges. Reducing the abundance of agricultural waste grain seems unlikely, but managers could reduce the availability of food and resting habitat on public lands. Such changes could increase harvest and decrease survival and productivity of snow geese, but may also have negative affects on other wildlife species that depend on these resources.

Removing half-day hunting and eliminating waterfowl rest areas in North Dakota has been discussed. These management strategies are designed to retain snow geese in the state during the fall, thereby increasing harvest opportunities. Both are effective management techniques that have played a major role in allowing North Dakota waterfowlers to take onethird to one-half of all the snow geese harvested in the Central Flyway. Eliminating them is not considered useful for increasing harvest at this time.

Any management strategy comes with a degree of uncertainty. We are also uncertain about what population level would allow recovery of arctic habitats, and the number of snow geese arctic habitats can sustain. Any management action must be accompanied by a monitoring program designed to measure the level of control exerted and response of remote arctic habitats.

Although harvest surveys and population surveys are already in place, refinements may be needed. Monitoring of arctic habitats is expensive and difficult. We need to develop new techniques, such as satellite monitoring of the landscape. We also need to learn much about the ecology of arctic plant communities and their ability to recover from severe overgrazing by geese.

There are also concerns about future snow goose hunting opportunities if the population is reduced by one-half or more. We expect hunters would notice little dift'erence with a greatly reduced, but healthy population. In fact, a reduction in population size may result in an increase in the annual number of young produced, which should increase hunter success.

On the other hand, if left alone, the population will continue to grow at its current exponential rate, destroy more arctic habitat, and likely crash at some time in the future. Such a scenario is not beneficial to snow geese, the arctic ecosystem, or anyone even remotely interested in snow geese.
Solving this complicated and widespread problem will not be easy, cheap, or without controversy. The consent and support of the public and management agencies of three countries is necessary before we even have the opportunity to try.

The fact is, success may not be possible. However, not trying would be irresponsible. The arctic habitats of North America the wildlife that depends on them, and our snow geese are much too valuable a resource to waste.

Part I - Snow Goose Crisis
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