Michigan officials turn geese into food

MILFORD, Mich., July 5 (UPI) -- Michigan officials, calling it a last resort, rounded up about 800 Canada geese this year and turned the birds into food for soup kitchens throughout the state.

This is the first time in many years the state Department of Natural Resources authorized the killing of the birds as part of its management plan, the Detroit News reported this week.

Animal rights groups and many residents object to killing geese. State officials say they have limited options for removing geese from areas where they interact with humans and there is more interaction now than in the past.

The DNR traditionally removes the geese to remote parts of the state or to other states that have more of a need for geese in hunting areas. These states did not request geese this year.

Other measures, such as using dogs to scare geese off and damaging eggs in the nests, have not worked either, officials said.