Wildlife Damage Management, Internet Center for

 

Date of this Version

September 1968

Abstract

In talking with the panel that has agreed to be with you this morning, we find that almost to a man they feel very strongly there is no "it" in bird control, that a good applicator needs to be well balanced and well rounded, that he needs to know, far more than one approach, that he needs to be able to understand people, biological problems, ecology, eco-nomics, and several other factors. The idea that sometimes comes across in meetings such as this is, and rightly so in some instances, "I have the final answer." Gentlemen, there is no "it" in bird control; there are many methods. To take one or two of the toxic methods and to leave out the non-toxic methods is to limit yourself to being branded as a killer, and in reality you are leaving yourself open to some serious problems. To take the other aspect, and to say we cannot kill birds because it's immoral or to be satisfied by saying that it isn't legal, is also an unrealistic approach.

Everyday you and I as business men and government officials are faced with important decisions. Sometimes making these decisions can prove to be some of the most difficult work that we do. For this reason I was particularly happy to have a simple choice "To Kill or Not to Kill," when we did bird control work in downtown Houston. I can sum up the reason for using Avitrol as opposed to poison baits in just two simple Words "Public Relations." That's not to say that we don't use poisons.

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