11/3/2009 - Bend
by Matt McDonald
The flocks of Canada geese, commonly seen in Bend's parks were the subject of a packed room debate Thursday night. The topic, is it time to consider killing some of the geese?
"The humane but lethal reduction seems to me to be the most logical," said one Bend resident.
"I don't think that the dipatching, the killing of wildlife is acceptable," said another.
In the middle, the Bend Metro Park and Recreation board of directors, taking public comment through mid-November before making any decisions.
"We have to do something. We can't just turn our head the other way," said Board Chairman Scott Wallace.
The problem, one of nature itself. The mess the geese leave behind.
"I've taken my young daughter to play in these places only to leave because of the filth everywhere," said a Bend resident.
For several years, the district tried trapping the Canada geese and moving them away.
"80% of those geese probably returned to town within five days," said Paul Stell from Bend Metro Park and Recreation District.
Herding dogs, oiling eggs, goose birth control, all were tried with limited success. Next, the district wants to try a remote control boat to chase the geese in the water and a rules change making it illegal to feed the geese.
For some, the answer is a lot more simple.
"Managing the geese population involves lethal means, I think that is a sustainable method as long as it's done selectively and strategically," said a Bend resident.
For others, the issue goes beyond the right or wrong of killing geese.
"The dubious distinction of geese killers, we might have a public relations nightmare on our hand," said a Bend resident.
No decisions are made Thursday night. The entire crowd coming to agreement perhaps just once.
"I certainly understand that you have a sticky situation on your feet here," said a Sister's resident.
Comments
DO SOMETHING!
We can keep doing the same old, won't ever work "methods" just to keep the animal "lovers" content. OR we can actually do something that will work. Removing the natural predators years back was in response the overwrought sensativities of the lovers too. Look what that caused. And, why is their concern only for one part of nature? Too many Disney movies in my opinion.
Goose issue
Killing is not the answer. There will always be something else around the corner to fill the void. There are fertilizers that you can use to deter the geese as well as other methods. You have to give these deterents some time. It's not going to happen in a week. Check out these sites:
1. Coalition to Prevent the Destruction of Canada Geese - www.canadageese.org
2. Canada Geese New Jersey - www.canadageesenewjersey.com
3. Geese Peace - www.geesepeace.org
4. OvoControl - http://www.innolyticsllc.com/
Prevent culling of the geese
PLEASE prevent the city of Bend, Oregon from killing geese!
Many communities and golf courses have managed to control their geese populations successfully without bloodshed. There is absolutely no justification for killing the geese when they are attracted to the lawns and ponds of the city. Please suggest that the city modify its landscape as a permanent and effective deterrent to the geese. The city of Moncton, New Brunswick has also been successful at getting geese off athletic fields by turning on the lawn sprinklers. The city can also place swan decoys to fool the geese and professionally controlled herding dogs have been very successful at getting geese off lawns.
Don't kill the geese
Killing is not the answer as there will be others to follow. The "solution" is a change of attitude. Geese are native to Canada, and they have a role to play in the ecosystem. We hear of diminishing wildlife and extinctions, but people are too ready to kill when they appear to be "over abundant". It is people invading their habitat that is the problem. There needs to be more reserves and national parks.