Iowa Admin. Code r. 571-114.13 - Special Canada goose control permits

A person applying for a special Canada goose control permit to use lethal methods to control Canada goose populations or to trap and translocate Canada geese must be a currently certified NWCO and must abide by the following rules:

(1) Lethal control practices. Permittees wishing to use lethal methods, such as nest destruction, egg oiling, egg addling, or killing geese, must comply with the following procedures:

a. Permittees must obtain written permission from the biologist responsible for the county in which the lethal control practice is proposed for every site where a lethal control practice is proposed before implementing any such practice. The biologist will determine if lethal control practices are necessary and will specify the number of nests, eggs, or adult geese that can be destroyed at each site.

b. The permittee must follow the procedures in the NWCO guidebook for implementing lethal control practices and disposing of dead birds, eggs, and nests. Failure to follow such procedures will result in immediate revocation of the permit.

c. Permittees must satisfactorily complete at least two lethal control projects under the direct supervision of a biologist or technician before being granted an SCGCP for lethal control practices. Upon the permittee's satisfactory completion of two lethal control projects, the biologist can issue the NWCO an SCGCP to perform lethal control activities without direct supervision by DNR personnel. The NWCO must carry this permit whenever engaged in lethal Canada goose control activities and exhibit it upon request by department of natural resources personnel. Any persons assisting with the lethal control practices must be listed on the SCGCP. The permittee is responsible for the conduct of all persons listed on the SCGCP who are helping conduct lethal control operations.

d. Permittees must document on an aerial photo, or similar map, the locations of all Canada goose nests destroyed, the numbers of Canada goose eggs destroyed, and the numbers of Canada geese killed at each project site within 48 hours of completion of each project. Any banded geese that are killed must have the bands removed before disposal and be reported as specified in the NWCO guidebook within 48 hours of the permittee's completion of the project.

e. Permittees must provide the department a written report of all lethal control activities by December 31 of the year for which the SCGCP is valid. Failure to provide this report by December 31 will result in the permittee's not being reauthorized to use lethal control methods the following year.

(2) Trapping and translocation operations. Permittees wishing to trap and translocate Canada geese must comply with the following procedures:

a. Permittees must obtain written permission from the biologist responsible for the county in which the trap and translocation operation is proposed for every site where such operation is proposed before implementing any such operation. The biologist will determine if a trap and translocation operation is necessary and will specify the number of geese that can be translocated from each site. The biologist will also specify release sites for the captured geese. Release sites must be approved by the biologist before any geese are captured.

b. The permittee must follow the procedures in the NWCO guidebook for implementing trap and translocation operations. Failure to follow such procedures will result in immediate revocation of the permit.

c. Before the permittee engages in a trap and translocation operation, the permittee's trapping and transport equipment must be inspected and approved by a biologist or technician.

d. Permittees must satisfactorily complete at least four trap and translocation projects under the direct supervision of a biologist or technician before being granted an SCGCP for trap and translocation operations. Upon satisfactory completion of four trap and translocation projects, the biologist can issue the NWCO an SCGCP to perform trap and translocation operations without direct supervision by DNR personnel. The NWCO must carry this permit whenever engaged in trap and translocation operations and exhibit it upon request by department of natural resources personnel. Any persons assisting with the trap and translocation operations must be listed on the SCGCP. The permittee is responsible for the conduct of all persons listed on the SCGCP who are helping with trap and translocation operations.

e. Permittees must inform the biologist of the number of birds captured and translocated within 48 hours of the completion of each operation. Permittees must document the number of Canada geese trapped and released for each capture and release site and the number of geese that died during each trap and translocation operation. Any banded geese that are captured and translocated must be reported as specified in the NWCO guidebook within 48 hours of completion of the project.

f.Permittees must provide the department a written report of all trap and translocation operations by December 31 of the year for which the SCGCP is valid. Failure to provide this report by December 31 will result in the permittee's not being reauthorized to trap and translocate geese the following year.

(3) General provisions.

a. The SCGCP is valid for one year and must be reauthorized by a biologist each year when the NWCO permit is renewed.

b. Any plumage, eggs, eggshells, nests, or dead birds encountered by the permittee when performing activities permitted under this rule may not be sold, offered for sale, bartered or shipped or possessed for the purposes of being sold, offered for sale, bartered or shipped.

c. Any properties on which lethal control or trap and transport operations are conducted must be open at all reasonable times, including during actual operations, to any biologist or technician, conservation officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service special agent, or U.S. Department of Agricultural Wildlife Services agent wishing to inspect the activity or the results of the activity.

d. Nothing in the permit should be construed to authorize the killing of any migratory bird or the destruction of the nests or eggs of any migratory bird other than resident Canada geese.

Notes

Iowa Admin. Code r. 571-114.13