Dusky geese: an endangered genus
By Shannon Kelley
Of the Emerald
When is a dusky goose not a dusky?
The five Western refuges in Oregon and
Washington tried to solve this riddle and found the
answer: When it is a Taverners goose.
These two sub-species of the Canada goose are
practically indistinguishable other than overall size
and length of bill. The main difference is population.
While the dusky goose population has plummeted to a
dangerously low level, the Taverners are flourishing in
number.
An earthquake in Alaska that destroyed the
duskies’ only breeding ground in the Copper River
Delta, and extensive hunting last year, are reasons for
the decline. Last year in Oregon and Washington, the
duskies numbered an estimated 19,300. By the end of
the season the number droppped to about 11,900, ac
cording to John Comely, biologist for the five refuges
(including Ankeny, Basket Slough, Sauvies Island and
Finley in Oregon and Ridgefield in Washington.) The
Taverners, however, are past the 50.000 mark. Comely
said.
Therefore, the staffs of the refuges were left with a
decision: How to feed the hungry hunters without en
dangering the duskies.
“We had to find out ways to take the pressure off
the duskies and transfer some of that pressure on the
Taverners,” says Comely.
Because it is so difficult for hunters to distinguish
I
Graphic courtesy Oregon Dept, of Fish and Wildlife
Size and bill length are key physical differences bet
ween Taverner's and dusky geese, sub-species of the
Canada goose.
between the duskies and Taverners, the refuge staffs'
first reaction was to close all goose hunting this season,
says Comely.
But, because of pressure from hunters and a high
number of Taverners an experimental season plan was
initiated.
The season has been reduced from three to two
months. The bag limit is reduced to two geese, but only
one can be a dusky. If a hunter’s first bag is a dusky, he
or she would be wise to quit, according to Comely.
An extra dusky can mean a fine of $50 or more, said
Pete Cornacchia, outdoor recreation writer for The
Register Guard.
Administrators at the refuges will give out informa
tion and pictures to help the hunters distinguish bet
ween the two types of geese.
The experiment may have problems, however. Cor
nacchia says that because it is so difficult to distinguish
between the two species, especially when the geese fly
together in flocks or when visibility is not clear, many
hunters that have shot a dusky may be tempted to avoid
acknowledging this to officials.
Cornacchia also expressed concern for another sub
species. the cackler, that also resembles the dusky and
Taverners geese.
Because of the low count, cackler hunting is bann
ed throughout the entire Pacific Flyway. Cornacchia
believes that because the cacklers also fly with other
species of geese, hunters will have an even more dif
ficult time distinguishing species.
However, it appears the refuges have all the bases
covered. The experiment contains an "emergency
clause", according to Ray Johnson, spokesperson for
the Sauvie Island Refuge. Johnson said that if more than
16 percent or 350 duskies are harvested, the sea soil will
be closed. Furthermore, Comely says that whatever
happens this season will set a precedent'for next
season. •
"Next year all the western refuges may .dose (for
goose hunting) depending on what happens this year."
says Comely.
This season, goose hunting runs from mid-October
to the beginning of January.
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