
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, July 18, 1994                   TAG: 9407180035
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: BRISTOL                                LENGTH: Short

COLLARS SUSPECTED OF STRANGLING GEESE

Some Canada geese tagged in Southwest Virginia to track their migrations may be strangling themselves on new identification collars, a state wildlife biologist said.

More than 480 geese were collared July 6-7 to determine if they still migrate and if so, how far, said Scott Whitcomb of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

Whitcomb said one-third to one-half of the tagged geese were marked with rubber collars around the neck. The white collars are about 3 inches wide, and are encoded.

"We've had four calls from people saying they've seen geese strangling or getting their bills caught in the collars," Whitcomb said. One caller reported that a bird had choked to death on the collar, but that has not been confirmed, Whitcomb said.

Game officials ask that anyone who sees geese that appear to be struggling with neck collars call the department's Clinch Mountain office at (703) 944-3434. - Associated Press

by CNB