Press Releases

April 27, 2005
For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Michelle Pintar
Direct: (414) 431-6104
E-mail: mpintar@wihumane.org

Beauty or Beast?

MILWAUKEE ? Coping with Canada Geese (and their droppings) in suburban areas can be a real challenge. Since geese prefer lush green lawns and shallow ponds, the Wisconsin Humane Society's Wildlife Rehabilitation Center recommends the community take the following steps to make popular ?people hangouts? such as parks and yards a lot less goose-friendly in order to minimize conflicts.

·    Fencing: Erecting barriers to restrict access to water and goose grazing areas can be a successful method of minimizing conflicts with geese. Low fencing can deter feeding and loafing, while parallel lines or wires can be placed one to two feet above the water surface to restrict bird landing, swimming and takeoff. Fences can be constructed out of materials such as silt fence, chicken wire, chain link, strong Mylar tape or wooden pickets.

·    Shrubs: Geese feel more secure in wide-open spaces where they can watch for predators, so planting strategically-placed shrubs in open areas can dissuade geese from lingering there.

·    Scare Devices: Visual deterrents such as strobe lights, Mylar tape and ?scare-eye? balloons as well as sound deterrents like sirens and electronic whistles can be used to chase geese away from an area. These materials are usually inexpensive and can often be implemented easily and quickly. They may need to be moved and changed around periodically so the birds don't get used to them.

·    Chemical Repellents: WHS' Wildlife Rehabilitation Center sells a goose repellent formulated from food-grade ingredients. The product is diluted with water and sprayed on grass with a pump sprayer. Once applied to turf, the grass tastes bad to geese. To purchase this repellent, please stop by the Center at 4500 W. Wisconsin Avenue .

·    Reproduction Control: Egg addling is a humane technique used to limit the reproduction of geese. Addling involves coating goose eggs with corn oil well within two weeks of them being laid, long before the embryos have completely developed. Addling requires permits from government wildlife agencies and should be used only by those trained in its proper use. In addition, addling should only be used after other methods have proven to be ineffective on their own. WHS' Wildlife Rehabilitation Center staff has assisted with egg-addling information and training for the Milwaukee County Parks Department employees for the last six years.

For more information about how to cope with geese, call the Wisconsin Humane Society's Wildlife Rehabilitation Center at (414) 431-6204 or visit www.wihumane.org .

# # #