The Goose Egg debate

[fuji]

Some people think that Canada Geese are pests that take over parks, cover the ground in bird shit, and sometimes act aggressively.

So many municipalities try to control the population of geese and the most humane way to do that is to control the number of eggs that hatch each year. So they send out city workers to collect a number of eggs and dispose of them before they can hatch, as a way of limiting the goose population.

Now the collection of goose eggs has outraged animal rights activists who put it this way:

“What has stunned and disgusted residents the most is the horrifying reality that fertilized eggs are being torn from the adults’ nests. Canada geese work as bonded pairs to raise their young. The destruction of their eggs creates stress and trauma for the adult birds,”

http://www.ctvnews.ca/mobile/canada...criticism-1.2902315?google_editors_picks=true

Are you stunned, disgusted, and horrified that some goose eggs are being destroyed?

 

[shack]

Lots of geese at my golf course in Aurora.

They hire a guy with 3 highly trained dogs that chase the geese. He comes by every week or two riding in a golf cart with his dogs and within a couple of weeks the number of geese being a nuisance is negligible. BTW, the dogs never harm the geese, just give 'em a good scare.

 

[Ridgeman08]

I was once attacked by a Canada Goose... True story.

I am an avid outdoorsy kinda guy, and basically leave wildlife alone, often admiring its glory from afar so as not to get in its way aside from snapping an occasional picture. In my travels, I've often seen deer, foxes, weasel type rodents, beavers, bald eagles, hawks, turkey vultures, amongst tons of raccoons, rabbits and of course Canada geese, blue herons, swans and other water fowl.

One of my passions is paddling the rivers and creeks of southern Ontario, and one of my favourite paddles is the Credit River in Mississauga, especially after a good rainfall... that section below the Streetsville dam can be quite awesome, boasting class 3 rapids all the way down to the Mississauga Golf Club before it opens up and levels off the rest of the way into Port Credit. One day last spring, I was paddling with my girl friend, and we started at the Derry Road bridge and made our way downstream to the Streetsville Memorial park, just north of the dam. At that point there's a mandatory portage around the dam... its fairly easy, because over the years, the number of paddlers and fishing enthusiasts that frequent this part of the river, have carved a nice path through the dense brush, from one side of the dam, to the other... Unbeknownst to me at the time, (because it was my first trip down the Credit that spring), a Canada goose had decided that it would be a good place for a nest a few meters off the path... So we unsuspectingly went ashore, same as dozens of times before, and started our way up the short path, with my girlfriend at the front, and me at the rear, (that way I get to stare at her ass at the same time! :eyebrows We get to the top of the hill, and start our way down, when out of no where this goose comes right at us! Wings spread wide, hissing and charging at the same time! My girlfriend screams, drops the boats, and bolts down the path, leaving me to deal with the threatening beast. There's literally no where else to go but back or forward, and no other path around the rather dense foliage... so I drop my boats, and grab a half a paddle, waving at him to fend him off, He was having none of it, and came at me again. I retreated, and he went back into the bush. I slowly crept up to one of my boats, grabbed the front handle in one hand and the half paddle in the other, and bolted past the bird as fast as I could, dragging the boat along behind me, waving the paddle at the charging bird the whole time. The goose again retreated into the bush... one down, one to go... My girlfriend was standing on the steel grate over the fish ladder, basically being useless, aside from looking cute in her LuLu shorts and tank top... and I make my way up the path again to retrieve my other boat, paddle in hand. As I approached, here comes papa goose, wings flailing, hissing and charging as before, but I was able to bolt passed him. Round two was the same, but this time the goose almost caught me! If it wasn't for my boat which I was dragging behind and beside me, which basically tripped him up, I would have gotten bitten for sure!

A couple week later, I went through the same section and found the abandoned nest. I suppose the chicks hatched and went along their marry way...

I have no issue with Canada Geese, but agree that they can be a nuisance when they start encroaching on parking lots etc.

 

[jgd]

There is definitely a health issue when it comes to geese moving into parks and school yards. I have seen areas where you literally cannot walk without stepping in goose manure Small children are going to get goose droppings on their footwear and inevitably on their hands, faces and so on. Geese, seagulls, racoons and all species need to be in balance with nature. When their natural predators are absent from the equation, things get out of control. Years ago I learned of the use of herding dogs such as Border Collies being used to herd geese to the point they leave the area.
Not sure if its true but I have been told that an adult goose can break a person's leg with a blow from its wings.
I think food banks should accept as much Canada Goose meat as they can handle.

 

[Conil]

They're flying shitting machines, but a good looking bird. The meat is not so great jgd, the breast is not bad but the legs taste very gamey. They should be flying up north not hanging around the city.
Once they nest in one spot they'll keep coming back every year at the same spot. I have no problem with a cull.

 

[**Sophie**]

The most Canadian thing you will ever see! :beguiled:

 

[james t kirk]

I vote for the geese.

I've been living in Southern Ontario most of my life and never had a problem with geese, their young, or their manure.

On the other hand, I've had lots of problems with people, their young, and their manure and the diseases they carry.