Posted on 05/17/2015 8:37:24 AM PDT by JoeProBono
WASHINGTON -- U.S. National Park Service officials fed up with goose droppings on the National Mall in Washington are calling for backup -- the four-legged enforcers known as the Geese Police.
Parks officials announced Thursday the Geese Police -- who are not actual police but rather a group of border collies trained to ward off trespassing water fowl -- will be patrolling the National Mall to keep the geese from befouling National Mall landmarks including the Lincoln Memorial.
The officials said just one goose can leave behind 2-3 pounds of feces in a single day and the unwanted excrement can damage pipes and filters in the reflecting pool as well as posing a health nuisance for visitors.
David Marks, founder of Geese Police, said he expects the goose problem to subside after a few weeks of work by his dogs.
"A problem that has been a problem for 8, 9, 10 years usually takes us 6 to 8 weeks to get a handle on," Marcks told NBC Washington.
Marcks said the dogs are trained not to be distracted by friendly humans while they're on patrol.
"The only thing he or she cares about is working," Marcks said.
The National Park Service said the geese will not be harmed by the dogs, merely chased away.
The service said the contract with Geese Police will last a year with an option to extend for four more years if officials are happy with the results.
Yes, perfectly OK. Cull the herds. Bring back roasted goose at Christmas.
There never was such a goose. Bob said he didn't believe there ever was such a goose cooked. Its tenderness and flavour, size and cheapness, were the themes of universal admiration. Eked out by apple-sauce and mashed potatoes, it was a sufficient dinner for the whole family; indeed, as Mrs Cratchit said with great delight (surveying one small atom of a bone upon the dish), they hadn't ate it all at last! Yet every one had had enough, and the youngest Cratchits in particular, were steeped in sage and onion to the eyebrows!
I see high powered air rifles are available in .30 cal and larger.Seems like a good solution to the goose problem.
I look at that pic and think about how I miss the two Border Collies I had as a kid.Toby and Jack were good,good dogs.
Our HOA has a pond and grassy area that was inundated with geese a few years ago, seeing an increase from just a few to over 200 before taking some action. Initially used “Away with Geese” lights, found the floating ones effective (solar powered lights, blink at a rate and height to annoy the geese so they will not stay on the pond at dusk and at night). Lights mounted in the field tended to get stolen and don’t think they were as effective anyway.
After a few years of relative success, some started to come back during the day. Dogs and a laser light seem to be working now. The bulk of the job is still successfully done by the floating lights.
Washington D.C. needs to pass a law that smoked Canadian Geese should be offered in all restaurants in the locale and the geese have to procured locally from official hunters and trappers. This would create a supply and demand that would effectively reduce the population of the geese significantly.
Are you talking about Politicians?
It would apply manyfold to them!
That's hilarious. /s
There's a nearby school that has posted signs in the adjacent fields stating a ban on dogs for 'health reasons' because children use the field.
It was difficult to walk the field without stepping in goose crap...
The National mall being covered in goose crap? Easy. A falconry corps using bald eagles.
Freegards
Trumpeter swans are making a huge comeback in my neck of the prairie. Every cattail swamp with a deep spot in the middle has a nesting pair on my way into work.
“It’s just wrong that we are so squeamish in the U.S. that we won’t do anything to control animal populations “
Muscovy ducks are a hideous invasive species. They out compete the local ducks and drive them to extinction. There used to be duck trucks. You’d call them and they’d trap the ducks and take them away. But the old folks in Florida feed the ducks. An elderly person attacked a duck truck worker trying to capture a duck and then died of a heart attack. The duck truck driver was sued and lost. Now there are no duck trucks. When I called the state to ask what to do (and I don’t recall the office now) the naturalist told me the duck truck story. He said, “don’t quote me. Use whatever disposal technique you can, but if the neighbors see you do it you will be in for a hassle.”
My sister who suffered an infestation of the beasts would hunt down their nests and dispose of the eggs. The stink of the eggs is like a biological weapon; nauseating.
How intolerant. Where’s the diversity?
One used to really not want to walk from building to building due to all the green goo.
Its so funny that the government seems to be pro wildlife and wetlands for birds. But when the birds stop on their property they are unwelcome. Geese pooh is fertilizer. It goes away after 2 weeks and one rain. The government seems to only like wild life in parks made especially for each species. And god forbid anyone else from harassing a goose.
In an omelet I hope, duck eggs are awesome.
“In an omelet I hope, duck eggs are awesome. “
Muscovy duck eggs are the most vile, disgusting thing I have ever smelled. They’re right up there with two week old dead bodies found in a trailer in August.
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