Hunters, suburbanites take on unflappable bird (Canada Goose)

Detroit News ^ | 9-8-03 | Francis X Donnelly

[Dan from Michigan]

SOUTHFIELD -- Everyone knows that Canadians are a polite, honest people who wouldn't dream of imposing on their neighbors to the south.

But have you met their geese?

The Canada goose, or, as some locals call them, flying rats, swarm Michigan's fields and streams with no intention of leaving. Ever.

[xp38]

In Flight

[xp38]

Is that the dow jones office on Rt.1?

[Cathryn Crawford]

I hope these loud noisy mean honkers get wiped out.

You know how much I agree with you, Dan.

[Miss Marple]

Egg-swipes are rather difficult, since one is always guarding the nest.

We have a problem with them in Indiana as well. We used to only see them flying overhead during migration. However, in the last 20 years, with the increase in retaining ponds in subdivisions and apartment complexes, they have taken to hanging around here year-round. I would bet there are about 2000 geese hanging around ponds within 2 miles of my home.

[Dan from Michigan]

I wouldn't want to take an eggswipe unless I had my 12 gauge with me. Those birds are mean anyway, and I assume they are like swans when it comes to defending the nest.

[xp38]

The trouble is these birds were migratory once but somehow they have learned that food is available to them year round especially in places people are (like here in Toronto) and they no longer migrate. Now they just waddle.

[cyberaxe]

.....at your service.....

[SauronOfMordor]

I wouldn't want to take an eggswipe unless I had my 12 gauge with me. Those birds are mean anyway, and I assume they are like swans when it comes to defending the nest.

A spear would be quieter.

Sounds like just the thing for exercising night-vision equiptment at 3am.

[gridlock]

Somehow Union County New Jersey got the authority to exerminate the nasty little poopers. Now, where there were 500 geese in Nomahegan Park, now there are about five. I was there over the weekend, and it was just beautiful. The water is clearing up, and we saw a beautiful blue heron hunting along the shore-line.

Some folks objected, but the County was smart (for once) and got the permit late one day, and rolled the gassing trucks at 2:30 the following morning. By the time the tree-huggers had their first meeting, the deed had already been done...

[brianl703]

I used to work at a place where these things would cross the road.

I used to stop for them, sometimes having to wait a couple of minutes or more. Then I realized that if I slowly move up on them, they will get out of the way quicker--like in 10-15 seconds.

[VadeRetro]

I see a few geese around here, especially along New Creek where people like to feed ducks. But the big pests are getting to be white-tailed deer. That's a BIG pest!

I used to be upset about the depredations of the groundhogs, but such trivial effects are hard to spot now. The deer have taken over.

They're doing a good job of keeping the weeds trimmed in my back yard, except they're keeping everything trimmed. They tear up the ground so bad it's getting big bare spots in a very rainy year when grass would otherwise be thick. I haven't seen my oriental lilies bloom, two years in a row now. (And, no, I can't shoot myself some venison. I'm in town.)

[redhead]

You're right. I guess I was thinking that it would be possible to spook all of them off their nests long enough for a swipe. Would it be possible to fence in an area infested with these birds and introduce a fox or two, perhaps? (provided, of course, that the fox decided to stay on the premises...)

[Alas Babylon!]

LoL!!! I especially liked how you covered the dead goose's eyes.

[Miss Marple]

I don't know. Fortunately, they don't bother our property, but my son (who works in commercial landscape) hates them. They really have become a nuisance, although I must admit when a couple of them landed on top of our house and trumpeted at the dog from the rooftop, I thought it was really neat.

[farmfriend]

Rights, farms, environment ping.

Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from this list.
I don't get offended if you want to be removed.

[Question_Assumptions]

Yes, that's the Dow Jones site on Route 1. It has a pond. I read an article a while back that they were warned about not including a pond...

[xp38]

I passed by it many a time when I lived in New Jersey for a short while. I remember the geese too.

[KC_for_Freedom]

Then I realized that if I slowly move up on them, they will get out of the way quicker--like in 10-15 seconds.

You don't say, but you probably have observed that if you startle them to flight suddenly, you can take your car to the car wash. When startled, they can leave a yard full of their crap which is as large as a small to medium size dog. Also note, The non-migratory birds will have several flocks of little goslings in a summer.

[tubebender]

Couldn't you just feed them corn soaked in cheap liquor and pick them up when they passed out...

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!