Conservation Corner: February 14, 2000

The New Snow Goose Regulations
by James L. Cummins

What does the Arctic Tundra Habitat Emergency Conservation Act have to do with Mississippi? Plenty.

This legislation, which was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Clinton, will help control the expanding population of snow geese in North America.

The annual winter population surveys of snow geese show that their population has tripled over the past 30 years. The population has increased from 800,000 in 1969 to approximately 2.8 million birds in 1999.

During this 30-year period, the birds have decimated much of the fragile Canadian arctic. With its short growing season, it cannot support a population of that size. For example, almost all of the Hudson Bay breeding grounds have been denuded of all vegetation due to overgrazing by snow geese. This impact is also contributing to the decline of other migratory bird species that share these breeding grounds and winter in the United States.

Hunting snow geese with traditional methodology has not been very effective in preventing excessive growth of their population. The legislation allows 24 midwestern and southern states to take "conservation measures" to reduce the population of this species. These conservation measures include allowing states to hunt snow geese past the ending date of the regular seasons, including other measures, such as unplugged shotguns and electronic calls.

In addition to technical support by Wildlife Mississippi, Ducks Unlimited and the North American Waterfowl Federation, Congressman Chip Pickering (R-MS) was the lead member of Congress who worked with the House and Senate leadership, especially Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS), that ensured the passage of this important legislation. It resulted in new regulations that will aid in decreasing snow geese populations so that breeding habitat for them and other species is sustained.

The timely work by these two Mississippians was very much needed and supported by many conservation groups across the nation. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service had implemented a plan of action on February 16, 1999, to help control the expanding population of snow geese, but it was withdrawn in May after a legal challenge by the Humane Society of the United States and other animal rights organizations.

According to Jamie Rappaport Clark, Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, "We appreciate the support of the members of Congress to protect these priceless breeding grounds from further devastation. We have long understood the need to take action and have been working to implement a long-term management strategy as quickly as possible."

James L. Cummins is Executive Director of the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation in Stoneville, Mississippi. Known as "Wildlife Mississippi," the Foundation is a non-profit, conservation organization founded to conserve, restore and enhance fish, wildlife and plant resources throughout Mississippi.