Ottawa and the NCC are scratching their heads for an answer to the burgeoning Canada goose population at local parks.
Anyone listening to CHEZ 106’s Doc & Woody Show this morning may have overheard my interview on the goose subject, where I used the expression:
“Massive Controlled Goose Cull”
Allow me to explain…for those who think it is widespread death and carnage I am speaking of.
By ‘Massive’ I meant a somewhat large scale operation as would be required – considering most area parks are inundated with Giant Canada geese and copious amounts of poop. This does not mean that every last goose should be eradicated; the population simply needs to be thinned out.
By ‘Controlled’ hunt, I am implying that CWS biologists and staff work with the City and NCC to establish a pre-determined number of birds which need to be harvested.
And harvested ethically I might add. None of this ‘oiling of the eggs’ stuff.
And finally, I realize that ‘Cull’ has become a somewhat evil 4-letter word in recent months, but really, is there any other feasible way of controlling birds capable of producing and depositing 1 KG of feces every day?
There has been some mention that ‘fish compost’ and allowing grass grow long, has had a small localized effect. But then what happens?
These opportunistic foul will simply get ‘bumped’ to another well manicured park in the area. It will be like musical chairs only with geese.
We are not getting to the root of the problem or addressing the real concern here.
As I mentioned this morning in my interview with Doc & Woody, these birds are not the ‘symbolic’ migratory variety of goose we have traditionally grown up with. Giant Canada’s are full-time residents and their numbers are only increasing.
Goose culls have taken place in other parts of Canada with success, but the question remains, is the City of Ottawa ready for such a bold (yet highly effective) tactic?
What do you think?
Outdoorsguy