Geese poop problem ‘goes to the dogs’

Shoot them, eat them, or feed them to the dogs? That doesn’t sound like any way to treat a staple of Canadian wildlife.

But the Canada goose and its poop-anywhere policy is keeping Ottawa residents away from the rivers and out of the parks, says Alex Cullen, the Bay Ward city councilor.

At a public meeting held on Thursday at Maki House, Cullen raised the issue of the growing number of geese defecating on recreational areas and possibly contaminating waterways with their feces.

“It’s a problem. It’s on the grass and the walkways. It’s everywhere, not just the water,” says Cullen. “And it’s spoiling the parks for people use. It’s difficult to even find a clean space to picnic.”

Nancy Ruth, a Conservative senator in Toronto, addressed the issue of the growing number of geese feces in her city last month. She suggested to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency that the birds be shot, and fed to the homeless community.

At the meeting, it was decided that in the areas where geese run rampant, dogs on leashes be allowed to roam. The hope is that the geese will be frightened away by the sight and sound of the dogs. The decision will override some park prohibitions, such as those in place in Nepean, that forbid canine entry entirely.

On holiday weekends such as Canada Day, the geese will get a break too – dogs will not be allowed in the parks due to the increase in park activity.

“This will be a one year trial that we will monitor,” says Cullen.  “It’s recognized that this is not a complete solution for dealing with the geese, and so there is a committee of residents working with me and the city staff to look at a more comprehensive solution.”

All Ottawa parks will be dog-friendly and goose-hostile starting this spring.