Update on Geese Fencing
We will take down the geese fence around June 15, which is when they will be flying again. Several residents have volunteered to store the fence until needed next year.
While we have had limited success this year, it is the Board’s plan to install the fence again in February -June 2017. We continue to have stragglers that visit from time to time so it would be advisable install the fence next year.
As many of you may recall, at this time last year we had 20-30 geese as somewhat permanent residences. This year we are down to one family (8 geese in total) and 2-4 visitors
As compared to last year, our yards and driveway are not covered in goose droppings and we are hopeful that will last throughout the summer. However, there are no guarantees.
And finally the Center for Wildlife Management sums up why we continue to attempt to have the geese relocate on their own:
| Many have raised concerns about the diseases found in the droppings of Canada geese. |
A single goose can defecate every 20 minutes leaving up to 1.5 pounds of feces each day. This problem is magnified when we realize that approximately 67% of those geese are non-migratory or resident geese. In other words, land and lakes frequently do not get a sustained rest from geese presence. If large numbers of geese congregate, one must wonder if there is a health risk related to the feces left on ground and in the water. French and Parkhurst (2009) noted, “Beaches and other public areas littered with accumulated goose feces have been closed due to the contamination.
If these geese remain as adults, this could result in up to 12 pounds of feces a day.