Wisconsin geese roundup sparks opposition

DELAFIELD, Wis., May 16 (UPI) -- A Wisconsin city's plan to round up geese and turn them into ground meat has activists up in arms, with one saying he's begun an online petition drive.

Officials of Delafield say the community needs to control non-migratory Canada geese along Lake Nagawicka because of worries about the effects of goose droppings on the lake's water quality, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Sunday.

Roundups have been conducted for years by cities across Wisconsin to thin geese populations, city officials said.

Some residents are urging Delafield to consider non-lethal methods.

Lake resident Jim Pfeil said he has offered $6,500 -- the amount the city budgeted for its goose-control roundup -- to pursue non-lethal methods to control the waterfowl.

"I think they are just jumping the gun with doing a roundup," said Pfeil, who helped spark an initiative drive when he posted news of the roundup on a Web site.

Neither the petition drive nor Pfiel's offer would alter plans for the roundup, city officials said.