The Geese, the Law, and You
From concerned Byrd Parker, Peggy Lynch:
A bill increasing the authority of Game and Inland Fisheries to regulate the feeding of wildlife has recently passed the house and senate in Virginal and is awaiting the Governors signature. http://www.richmondsunlight.com/bill/2010/hb487 This bill underwrites the actions now underway in Byrd Park to address the geese in the park. Now before you jump up and say Yeah! No more goose “pooh” on the sidewalks, let’s take another look.
The geese in Byrd and Maymont Parks present unique occasions for us to interact with nature. They are amazing in their beauty and docile natures. And is hard to resist the opportunity that a single slice of bread offers to be within inches of one of these magnificent birds. Those of us who are long time residents in the Byrd Park/Maymont area have the best of all worlds, a singularly central, diverse and unique location within a city where we are just steps way from nature at its finest. And yes, there are compromises one must accept to live in a peaceable kingdom. The geese and ducks do take their time strolling across the streets and their “pooh” can make navigating the sidewalks a bit of a challenge. However, the tactics and efforts underway to “manage’ the geese in the park is a case for concern.
New signs have been put in place asking people to not feed the geese and border collies have been brought in to chase the geese with the ultimate goal of encouraging them to migrate south as the signs suggest.
While the intentions are good, withholding food and terrorizing these birds after condoning their presence for so many years is cruel and inhumane. Many of these geese were born here in the park and we have delighted in watching them as young goslings, waddling behind their mothers. For many of them this is the only home they have known. So to suggest that they can simply fly away and find another home is very short sighted…especially given the time of year. Many of these now native geese have never migrated. Having worked in animal rescue for many years, I understand how difficult it is to relocate animals whose homing instincts are embedded. When food is withheld and they are made fearful in their native environment they will wander to the periphery which is what I have observed with the geese. They are moving further from the relatively safe confines around the lake to the more heavily trafficked streets and areas surrounding the park. My worst fears were realized last week when coming home from work I saw one of these magnificent creatures dead on Blanton Avenue. He had been hit by a car.
This House bill does not make it illegal to feed the geese in the Park but does broaden the states authority to take steps such as those now in place in Byrd Park. While the goal of population control and maintaining a quality of life balance for man and animal is laudable, the manner in which it is achieved is deserving of thoughtful consideration.
In this world where animals domestic and otherwise are so often treated as disposable commodities when they inconvenience us, we as a community need to embrace a humane perspective and consider the options available that will help to provide a balance for man and nature. Withholding food and running the geese into unfamiliar territory is a temporary and ultimately unsatisfactory fix. There are other options.
Peggy Lynch has contributed these thoughts in an effort to promote awareness and inspire discussion. Please feel free to reciprocate.
Well , with the city’s attempts to discourage the geese with dogs. It is evident they return Maybe less but they return….And they return to eat the grass and bread that is feed to them…..Cut the baby in half and continue to discourage feeding the geese……realize they are critters only doing what critters do….bring in the dogs once in a while But realizing all the time the geese are doing what geese do do I enjoy seeing them in our Park….
There are two kinds of geese in Byrd Park: migratory geese and domestic geese who live in the park year round. The border collie project is intended to encourage the migratory geese to move on to another stopping place on their way. The project is not intended to interfere with the domestic geese.
The theory for asking people to stop feeding the geese is consistent with this goal–if there is more food available here than elsewhere, the migratory birds will stop here. If there are no migratory birds here, there is adequate food for the domestic birds naturally occurring in the park.
Canadian geese impede my ability to interact with nature and enjoy the park.
The amount of feces, and their size, is staggering; and creates an unsanitary, unsafe place for children (or adults). I can’t wear my shoes into the house after I return from jogging.
I’d rather swim in the Ganges than have a picnic on the lawn beside Swan Lake.
My wife’s former employer had a simpler geese issue and after the border collies failed to achieve any form of success the school hired a professional wild-life removal team. After a couple of days rounding up all the geese and releasing them a state away they returned to the amusement off all the students.
Depending on where I’m walking or who I’m with, I alternately love and hate the geese. My dogs probably vacuum up 3lbs of goose poop apiece whenever we get near the lakes. That makes a walk/jog frustrating and disgusting. My two year old threatens to pick the stuff up if it looks like a rock. And some spots are just so blanketed with feces that you can’t really linger there comfortably.
Despite these issues, we like being near the birds and can’t resist feeding them every so often. But, I do worry that things are getting out of control (not that I am aware of the ebb and flow of the goose population). Just last weekend, Swan lake was swarming with hundreds of seagulls expecting bread. Is that normal?
If you feed them, they will come.
When we interfere with wildlife- geese, seagulls, raccoons, & others- they will become more comfortable around people. While that seems “cute”, it poses danger to them, and to us. Animals are in more danger of getting hit by cars, and can often cause serious injuries or worse for people. Same goes for litter on the side of the street- that innocent apple core that was tossed out the window attracts mice, deer, skunks, and the predators that hunt them. You don’t have to be an animal lover to understand the consequences here.
Feeding animals like geese also encourages them to eat other “unnatural” foods- like trash- which poses the same health risks to the animals as when our pets consume trash. Bread is not a healthy meal for a goose, fish, or turtle. Bread & crackers does not meet the nutritional needs of these animals. It’s like feeding your dogs bread & celery every day. They may eat it, but it will not sustain them. Not to mention the risk of disease from feces or the animals themselves.
The signs are clearly not doing the job. Almost EVERY day I see folks feeding the geese right next to the sign! I’ve even seen Richmond City employees in uniforms feeding the geese right by their city vehicles! We need to spread the word that while feeding the geese seems like you are helping, you are doing more harm than good.