Timothy Ford quoted in McClatchy-Tribune News Service story on USDA program that exterminates geese

UNE Vice President for Research and Dean of Graduate Studies Timothy Ford, Ph.D., was interviewed for an Aug. 18, 2011 McClatchy-Tribune News Service investigative story titled "Taxpayers subsidizing wild life extermination program, probe shows," which looked a the USDA's Wildlife Services division. 

The division is charged with overseeing the nation's wildlife conflicts involving agricultural and property damage, and human health and safety. According to the story, U.S. taxpayers are subsidizing a $126.5 million program that exterminates more than 4 million wild animals annually, including thousands of geese, which were the focus of the story.

Ford, whose field is public health, told the reporter that he knows of no studies linking Canada geese to human health problems. "The science just isn't there to support that reasoning."

More than 10 media outlets around the nation ran the story, including the Kansas City Star, Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, and Sacramento Bee.