You know something’s up when two newspapers, on the same day, run stories about the problems with Canada Geese.
Bad Geese
From the Register Guard, we learn that Eugene school officials are encouraging people to let loose their dogs on the play fields near Willagillespie Elementary School. They’re hoping the dogs will chase and scare away a flock of Canada Geese that have been making a mess of things. The volume of droppings is so bad that the fields have been closed during school hours all winter, although some soccer teams continue to use them. But if the dogs don’t work, officials are looking at “other” methods.
Good Goose
Then there’s this story from the Bend Bulletin which takes a more scholarly approach to the issue. Wildlife officials have discovered that not all Canada Geese are bad, some are more trouble than others. On one end of the spectrum you have geese who are just passing through, following the ancient migration route from California to Canada. Then there’s the rude goose who won’t leave. He’s just fine hanging out by the pond all year long, thank you very much. He’s also the one doing most of the damage. Officials think that by targeting the “bad” geese, the others won’t be such a problem.
Let’s hope they’re right and we can all take a stroll through the park without having to worry so much about where we step.
