Goose Poop!

There was an article in the Idaho Statesman recently. It is linked HERE, but just in case that page disappears, I've pasted the ridiculousness in its entirety below:

Zimo: Tired of goose poop? Why not let our dogs chase the birds away Squissssh. Slip. Squissssh. Slop. Goo. Goozz. Goose poop has to be gooiest, slimiest and grossest stuff around. I didn't think a simple stroll along the Boise Greenbelt would be such a sloppy mess. We decided to head off the path and walk through the grass with the dogs so we wouldn't disturb the busy weekend traffic of runners, bicyclists and walkers. We hadn't gone a few feet when the squishing started. Goose glop sort of matches the grass and is camouflaged. You're toe deep before you know it. The green stuff molds itself right in the soles of your trail shoes. You can jump up and down or slam your shoes against tree roots and rocks, and you're not going to get the Super Glue of poop off your shoes. Canada geese are majestic birds when they are flying in formation across the wilds during a southern Idaho sunrise. But when they're grazing in Ann Morrison Park and other parks and on golf courses throughout town, they're varmints. Our parks and golf courses are like goose cesspools. You've got to wonder about the health hazards, especially with kids playing in the parks. The number of geese in Boise averages about 2,000 but has varied over the last 10 years from 1,500 to 8,600. That's right, up to 8,600! It drives hunters crazy. They drive 70 miles to hunt geese along the Snake River, and they see more honkers in the parks in town than on secluded islands in the river. Idaho Fish and Game has trapped geese from Boise parks in the past and taken them 60 miles away to C.J. Strike Reservoir, but the birds are back in town in four days. Biologists joked that maybe some of the wise ones beat the Fish and Game truck back to Boise. Canada geese are a problem nationwide because they adapt to urban life. They are grazers, and where can you get better grass than in parks and golf courses? But as with all wildlife, if you get overcrowding and no thinning of the herds or flocks, you get disease. Here's a thought that has been suggested around town: Let's make Ann Morrison an off-leash park for dogs in the winter. With dogs roaming free and harassing the geese, maybe they will leave. There are Fish and Game laws about harassing wildlife, but in this case, it wouldn't be harassment as much as helping get rid of a public nuisance. Geese are trashing the places where kids kick soccer balls, disc golfers walk and people take a stroll. However, I know in some cases the geese beat up dogs. They're tough. Don't laugh about the off-leash idea. It keeps coming up. You may see a proposal in the future. Making Ann Morrison Park off-leash is a better solution than some of the others I've heard from hunters, like having controlled bow hunts for geese in some Boise parks or on some golf courses. Another hunter suggested special waterfowl youth hunts in the parks. Those ideas may not fly as fast as the dog thing. Let the dogs scare the geese to other areas.

Boy, this guy is a regular rocket scientist, isn't he? I'm sorry the Idaho Statesman allowed such an irresponsible piece to be published.

There are many things wrong with this article, but first I want to start by posting the Federal Regulations on Migratory Birds.

But let's assume that somehow, some way, someone can get the Federal Regulation amended to include turning a park into an off-leash dog park and allowing dogs of any breed to harrass the geese, please show me the draft legislation you have that will need to be introduced in order to enforce the rules of people picking up Fido's shit after Fido is done chasing the geese. You think geese shit is offensive? You think all these oh-so-responsible people who are going to show up with their dogs to chase the geese without first researching what they are doing are going to pick up their dog shit amongst all that geese shit? Yeah. I'm sure they'll get right on that.

Beyond that, does the rocket scientist who is making this ludicrous suggestion know anything about goose control? Does he know anything about the mating and/or nesting behaviors of the Canada Goose? Would letting any breed/all breeds chase the birds at will solve the goose problem, or would it simply be harrassment? What would determine whether or not it's harrassment of wildlife? I'd imagine that if the method works, it would not be considered harrassment. Will letting Spike and Fluffy and Fido chase the geese work? Maybe for the moment. But does it help in the long run? Does Fido's owner have any idea what to do if Fido catches one of those birds and kills it? What if an amped up Fido decides to tromp over a small child he passes on his way to go chase the birds? Who does the child's parents sue? Fido's owner? What if Fido gets distracted, and instead keeps on running and runs into the street? Now Fido is maimed or dead, and someone has to live with the fact that they just killed a dog. Yes, this sounds like fun. You don't think Fido will run into the street? Isn't that Catherine Albertson Park right across the street? Since Fido is a "goose dog" and is good an amped up now, and he's chased away all the geese at Ann Morrison, doesn't it make sense that he'll go over to CA park and do the same? Oh, the owner has control of Fido? Right.

Enter Spike. Spike is a bully breed. Owned by a 17 year-old kid named Kevin that lives down the street. Kevin doesn't spend any time with Spike unless all of Kevin's friends are out of town and Kevin has nothing to do. Spike comes when called ... sometimes. Spike likes to chase squirrels in the yard. He's not nuts about kids, but since Kevin can call him back sometimes, it's not a problem. Kevin sees in the paper that Ann Morrison is now an off-leash dog park, and heads down there with Spike in tow. Oh, and Kevin didn't bring any poop bags either.

Getting the picture? I know some of this sounds dramatic and extreme to the non-dog owner or someone who just owns a little dog and doesn't hang out with a lot of dog people. Others know this is certainly a realistic scenario.

Border Collies make excellent goose dogs, however, even I wouldn't recommend just any Border Collie owner to head down to the park and try their hand at controlling the goose population. There are goose control companies out there that understand the mating and nesting habits of the birds which is key in controlling the problem. Perhaps the park should hire some professionals if they want to control the geese. Turning the park into an off-leash dog park will leave the park in desperate need of controlling a very different problem, and I don't think they want that.

Happy tails,
JD