Local company gets permit to shoot problem geese in busy area

by Adam Walser

Posted on March 22, 2010 at 7:56 PM

Updated today at 7:56 PM

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A Louisville company has been issued a permit to shoot and kill geese on its property, even though the facility is located in a busy area of the city.

Neighbors say they weren't told about it, even though we learned that police officers were alerted by an e-mail sent out in advance.

Nobody is disputing the fact that there are lots of geese flocking around Taylor Avenue, just outside the Louisville Zoo.

“We come in for practice in the morning, we've got about a hundred standing out in right field, ” said Jacob Waldrip, a member of the Spalding University Baseball Team.

While they used to fly on to Canada this time of year, now, they don't seem to fly anywhere.

That's not a problem for some neighbors.

“I find them adorable, ” said Ursala Lacer, who is Director of the Kentucky Hemophilia Foundation located on Taylor Avenue. “Especially when they cross the street, I slow down.”

But for others, it's unbearable.

That was the consensus of Taylor Enterprises, where employees say the food company has been harassed by a gaggle of geese, causing a possible health hazard.

The baseball team has one solution..

“We run at them. They run away. That's it. We go on with practice, ” said Waldrip.

But Thomas Emanuel of Taylor Enterprises says that doesn't work. He says nothing does.

He turned to U.S. Fish and Wildlife, which issued a permit allowing for a goose round-up on the company's property.

The permit is based on a contract with Wildlife Services since the company involved is in the middle of the city.

A representative of the agency arrives armed with a gun, then shoots the geese at point-blank range at a downward angle until many of the problem geese are killed.

Neighbors were not happy to hear about the hunt.

“I work on weekends. I wouldn't want to be shot on my way into the office, ” said Lacer.

“It is pretty questionable, I guess, to have someone shooting in the middle of the city like this, ” said Kyle Just, another Spalding University baseball player.

“That’s insane!” said Jeff Sparks, who was visiting the Mega Cave just below Taylor Enterprises Monday. The first round happened Saturday. No word on how many geese were killed..

We asked Thomas Emanuel of Taylor Enterprises to do an on camera interview, but he declined. He told us on the phone that killing the geese was truly a last option, but that nothing else the company tried worked.
1831 Taylor Ave.
Louisville, KY 40213
502.458.3003 800.922.8009
Fax 502.458.0770