Ah, the joys of an HOA. The Edgewater homeowners’ association in Madison, Alabama, voted this week to euthanize hundreds of Canada geese living near Lady Ann Lake in the neighborhood, triggering a backlash from residents who say the board is ignoring humane alternatives. Board president Brian Goodwin said the growing goose population has hurt lake water quality, fouled walking trails, and created safety concerns for the community. However, resident Natalie Tidwell said she has personally never experienced hostility from the geese or gotten sick from them, and called lethal measures unwarranted.
Canadian geese are federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act but can be legally killed with a USDA permit. The board obtained such a permit in 2020, but a board member who voted against this week’s plan noted that another flock repopulated the area within two weeks. That board member, Jack Hollum, has been personally cleaning the goose droppings himself twice a day and said it takes only 10 minutes. Opponents are gathering signatures from 25 percent of households needed to trigger a formal challenge.
Source: ActionNews5
