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Grant · 06-04-2009, 09:12 AM

At the risk of sounding like the proverbial broken record, I am compelled to once again wail about the dangers (yes, dangers) of non-migratory Canada geese. Allowing a resident population of these birds to establish itself in the Lake Region would be disastrous for water quality.

Coming from Southeastern Pennsylvania, I speak from experience. Think milfoil is intrusive and bad? Worried about zebra mussels? Snake fish? They're all minor leaguers when compared to the geese in terms of potential to destroy a body of water.

Down here, they are everywhere. That is, anywhere there is the smallest amount of water. They mate for life and breed in large numbers each spring. Being non-migratory, they stick around. I probably saw 50-60 in suburban business campuses on my commute this morning. They stop traffic!

Locally, they have destroyed two large lakes (which double as reservoirs) in recent years. The population has flourished -- protected and unchecked -- and their fecal matter has impacted water quality at these two lakes to the point where visibility is ZERO and swimming has been banned due to bacteria counts. The water in these lakes is now permanently green -- all due to goose dookie. The average goose produced over a pound of poop per day. Multiply this by the hundreds that are seen in the average flock, and you'll understand why bacteria and algae blooms are so prevalent down here.

In recent years, I've been disturbed to see and hear these 'winged rats' in the Lakes Region. Unless you've witnessed how quickly they reproduce, take over, and foul (pun intended) the areas they habitat, you cannot truly appreciate this concern. If you see them in your area, do something! Chase them away. Don't let them make themselves at home. They are already here, so it should really be up to the State to take decisive action before it's too late. These aren't loons, folks!

Call me alarmist now, but you'll see what I mean if they are allowed to settle and flourish. It's state like Pennsylvania that you have to thank for letting the populations explode to the levels they are at today.

Additional reading:

Background on how Pennsylvania screwed up

It's estimated that a goose eats 4 or 5 pounds of grass a day and defecates every 8 minutes, producing over one pound of feces per day.

06-04-2009, 09:12 AM	#6
Grant Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Pennsyltuckey, Tuftonboro, Moultonborough Posts: 1,499 Thanks: 374 Thanked 229 Times in 123 Posts	At the risk of sounding like the proverbial broken record, I am compelled to once again wail about the dangers (yes, dangers) of non-migratory Canada geese. Allowing a resident population of these birds to establish itself in the Lake Region would be disastrous for water quality. Coming from Southeastern Pennsylvania, I speak from experience. Think milfoil is intrusive and bad? Worried about zebra mussels? Snake fish? They're all minor leaguers when compared to the geese in terms of potential to destroy a body of water. Down here, they are everywhere. That is, anywhere there is the smallest amount of water. They mate for life and breed in large numbers each spring. Being non-migratory, they stick around. I probably saw 50-60 in suburban business campuses on my commute this morning. *They stop traffic!* Locally, they have destroyed two large lakes (which double as reservoirs) in recent years. The population has flourished -- protected and unchecked -- and their fecal matter has impacted water quality at these two lakes to the point where visibility is ZERO and swimming has been banned due to bacteria counts. The water in these lakes is now permanently green -- all due to goose dookie. The average goose produced over a pound of poop per day. Multiply this by the hundreds that are seen in the average flock, and you'll understand why bacteria and algae blooms are so prevalent down here. In recent years, I've been disturbed to see and hear these 'winged rats' in the Lakes Region. Unless you've witnessed how quickly they reproduce, take over, and foul (pun intended) the areas they habitat, you cannot truly appreciate this concern. If you see them in your area, do something! Chase them away. Don't let them make themselves at home. They are already here, so it should really be up to the State to take decisive action before it's too late. *These aren't loons, folks!* Call me alarmist now, but you'll see what I mean if they are allowed to settle and flourish. It's state like Pennsylvania that you have to thank for letting the populations explode to the levels they are at today. Additional reading: Background on how Pennsylvania screwed up It's estimated that a goose eats 4 or 5 pounds of grass a day and defecates every 8 minutes, producing over one pound of feces per day. __________________ "When I die, please don't let my wife sell my dive gear for what I told her I paid for it."