DENVER — Meat collected from Canada geese, which were rounded up and killed to control overpopulation in Denver, has ended up at Metro Caring – a non-profit that will serve it to families in need.
A United States Department of Agriculture facility processed the meat, packaged and labeled it, and then sent the product to Metro Caring. The food bank began distributing the meat when it was received on Monday.
“We had an opportunity to receive a free source of protein to put into our market,” said Tommy Crosby, the Food Access Team Leader at Metro Caring. “It’s ground meat. We’re receiving a portion. And that’s all I can say about that.”
Crosby said the organization had nothing to do with the decision to kill geese. Metro Caring is simply the distributor.
Ground goose meat will be the featured food at Metro Caring on Friday. Customers can sample goose chili, a shepherd's pie and a South African dish made from the geese that recently lived in Denver's parks.
“I think people have been surprised, interested. People who know how to cook with it are pretty excited,” Crosby said.
Crews from the USDA’s Wildlife Services Division collected the geese on Denver’s behalf. The process began earlier this month.
Geese are protected by federal law, but the government can give state and local authorities approval to kill the birds for population management purposes.
It requires a special permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to carry out plans like these. Denver city officials said the USDA – which is carrying out the city’s goose management plan – got the proper permits.
The Humane Society said Fish and Wildlife frequently gives permission to kill Canada geese in urban and suburban areas.
Denver Parks and Recreation said they won’t euthanize geese anymore this year.
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