Homeowners Association Faces Backlash Over Goose Culling Plan
A homeowners association (HOA) in Madison, Alabama, has sparked protests and demands for humane wildlife management after voting to euthanize hundreds of Canada geese residing at Lady Ann Lake.
Dozens of residents gathered in the Edgewater neighborhood to protest the HOA's decision, which was not unanimous, to fatally gas the geese in a chamber. Protesters advocated for non-lethal alternatives such as using horns to scare the geese away or relocating them.
David Field, a resident of the neighborhood, initiated an online petition on Change.org to halt the culling efforts at the community's man-made lake.
“Our family, like many others, moved here to enjoy not just the tranquil environment but to live alongside nature,” the petition states. “Tragically, the Edgewater HOA ruled to start capturing and slaughtering these innocent birds, a practice we find abhorrent and unnecessary.
“This isn’t just about these birds; it’s about the ecosystem and the balance we disturb when we decide that we can control nature.”
HOA Cites Environmental and Safety Concerns
Brian Goodwin, president of the Edgewater HOA board, told Alabama media outlets that 226 Canada geese currently inhabit Lady Ann Lake. He asserted that the birds have adversely impacted the lake’s water quality, public health, trails, common areas, and resident safety.
The HOA plans to employ carbon monoxide gassing to reduce the flock. This method was previously used in 2020 to cull geese in the neighborhood before a new flock appeared.Canada geese are federally protected species, but culling is permitted with authorization from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Board member Jack Hollum explained that a subcontractor hired by the USDA will carry out the extermination.
“They shoot nets over the flocks of geese, capture as many as they can, they put them in a trailer, and gas them to death,” said Hollum, who was one of two board members opposing the culling plan.
“And geese can hold their breath for 45 minutes or so – so in doing that, it’s an agonizing death for them.”
Residents and Animal Rights Groups Oppose Lethal Measures
Edgewater resident Natalie Tidwell expressed disagreement with the HOA’s claims regarding the geese’s impact in an interview with WAFF 48.
“I’ve never had any issues with hostility or aggression,” she said. “We personally never got sick as kids rolling around in the dirt.
“I can’t say that it’s a problem that warrants lethal measures, that’s for sure.”
The animal rights organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) strongly opposes culling as a management strategy, stating it only offers a temporary solution.
The Edgewater HOA did not immediately respond to requests for comment. However, in a statement shared with FOX54, the HOA defended its vote and decision to proceed with culling.
“For more than six years, our HOA has worked continuously to manage the growing population of resident Canada geese at our 140‑acre community lake. These geese are not migratory; they live here year‑round, and without natural predators their numbers have increased well beyond what the lake and surrounding environment stably support,” the statement said.
The HOA indicated it has relied on non-lethal management methods, including cleaning up feces, attempting predator deterrents, reducing grazing areas, and deploying goose-deterrent sprays.
“After years of non‑lethal attempts that did not reduce the population, the HOA consulted with state wildlife officials and the [USDA]. Under federal guidelines, USDA Wildlife Services is authorized to assist communities when goose populations exceed sustainable levels and create documented public‑health and environmental impacts.”
