This bill mandates the Department of Agriculture to collaborate with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to identify and implement both nonlethal and humane lethal methods for controlling geese populations in New Jersey. The Department of Agriculture is tasked with proposing a memorandum of understanding with the USDA that outlines the methods of geese control, the circumstances for their implementation, and specifies humane lethal methods that do not involve gassing. Additionally, the bill requires both the Department of Agriculture and the Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) to post fact sheets on their websites detailing the methods of geese control and the relevant circumstances for their use.
Furthermore, the bill stipulates that within 90 days of the memorandum's execution, the DFW must consult with the Department of Agriculture regarding the identified methods and determine the specific methods to be used by the DFW. The Department of Health is also required to notify relevant agencies of any public health emergencies necessitating lethal control of geese and to implement humane methods whenever possible. Lastly, the DFW is instructed to adopt best management practices aimed at discouraging resident Canada geese populations by promoting habitats that are inhospitable to them, minimizing natural turf grass, and encouraging native plant growth.