Protect geese on Puget Island

To The Eagle,

Our quiet weekends will soon be shattered by the early morning blasts of shotguns aimed at the magnificent geese stopping here on Puget Island. Landing here and on many other river islands to recover from their exhausting migration, many of these innocent creatures will be shot to death instead. What a terrible irony.

Animal researchers note that when a Canada goose's mate dies, the survivor is at their most vulnerable. When a goose loses its mate, the signs of grieving are disturbingly human. The widowed bird hangs its head, losses the desire to eat and shows signs of apathy and confusion.

Puget Island should be declared a ‘no shooting zone’ because of it’s important role on the Pacific Migratory Flyway as well as its increasing population density. Once a projectile leaves a gun barrel there is no predicting what it will kill, injure or destroy in the distance beyond its intended target.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has issued guidelines regarding safe hunting distances. The WDFW states that during target practice on their dept. properties “ It is illegal to discharge a firearm within 500 feet of a residence or other building.” This restriction applies even if the property is privately owned.

The WDFW urges hunters to adopt this 500 foot setback ( WAC 332-52-145) as matter of both hunting courtesy and public safety on all other public and private lands for both hunting and target shooting. Observing the rule of safe distances for shooting of any kind will mitigate incidents that could lead to prosecutions for ‘reckless endangerment’ under RCW 9.41.230.

Such rules prevail because many people, hunters or not, behave heedless of courtesy or safety. In my opinion, It’s also time for some rules that protect the geese from hunters, as well.

JB Bouchard,

Puget Island