Loading...
1986 05 27 Public Hearing Minutes . . . ',' Park and Recreation Commission Public Hearing on Goose Population control Minutes May 27,1986 Chairman Lynch called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. All of the Commissioners were present. Lynch began by saying that City staff, in response to citizen's complaints are concerned about the increasing number of geese in Chanhassen parks and beaches. He said that the goo se population has become a health problem as well as a maintenance problem. He indicated that Dr. James Cooper was present to discuss the pro- posed goose population maintenance program. Lynch reminded the audience that the Park and Recreation Com- mission is an advisory body to the City Council. He said that the Commission would hear the public's comments, review them and the program presented, and make a recommendation to the Council. Dr. Cooper said Canada Geese are a new phenomina in cities. They are a native species of Minnesota that disappeared during the depression and declined drastically during early market hunting days. In the mid 50's there were programs that were developed by private individuals as well as state and federal agencies to bring the Canada Goose back. Birds were re-introduced in numerous areas throughout the state as well as in the Twin Cities. Since the mid 50's there have been releases through much of the Twin Cities including state parks, park reserves, public parks, and private land. In the early 70's the number of Canada Geese numbered about 1000 birds located in some 14 different sites, mainly around these release sites. Since that date the popula- tion in the metro area has grown to be 10,000 birds. It was never anticipated that this species would do so well, since it had been lost during settlement days. But we now know that the Canada Goose has well adapted to our metropolitan areas. It is able to tolerate disturbance, it utilizes our shorelines for both adult food as well as for juvenile food during the brooding period. It finds nesting sites in among the city ponds, lakes and wetlands and is very successful in nesting. The only predi- tor here that takes any eggs to speak of is the raccoon, who is a relative ineffective preditor on a bird as large as the Canada Goose. Because hunting is not allowed through much of the metro area, the bird has a very high survival rate. The adults have an average of 90% survival from year to year and immatures approxi- mately 75%. Population with the productivity base that the Twin Cities geese have can sustain over a 50% mortality on annual basis without declining. Canada Geese have been growing and con- tinue to grow to approximately 30% per year. This means that communities that have particularily large expanses of parks along with wetlands near these release sites, such as Carver Park Reserve, have found increasing numbers of Canada Geese. Park and Recreation Commission Public Hearing Minutes May 27, 1986 Page 3 adequate nesting areas and brood rearing sites. Once you have your population down the costs involved should be somewhat less than what you currently will incurr to get this population under control. I am proposing a four year plan. We are unable to get the population down any quicker than that. Lynch asked how long programs at other sites have been in existence. Cooper said we were in the fourth year with Min- neapolis, third with Golden Valley, second year with the airport, and the second year with New Brighten. Lynch asked if he felt that they have had adequate success at those locations. Cooper said we have, but not as effective as we could be because of the adult return. The translocation of birds to Oklahoma is not as effective as we would like it. 75-80% of birds stay in Oklahoma, but some do find their way back home. Lynch asked if the goose populations level out at some natural density level and if Dr. Cooper had a target density. Cooper said that geese will breed in colonial density if there is no predation. Lake of the Isles is a prime example where in 1981 geese populations were over 1000 birds. Nesting on the islands were about 50 nests on one acre, and data gathered indicates that nesting density could be four times that. This year there are only 14 nests out there so the goal of eight breeding pair is getting closer.' As far as natural nesting density, there pro- bably is one but is likely to be much higher than what people will tolerate. Cooper indicated that the second part of the question is difficult because toleration levels vary with each individual. The decision of how many geese you would like to maintain in these areas is a local decision. Lynch described the park areas involved and asked what other cities in comparable situations are doing. Cooper said that at Lake of the Isles the target would be 100 birds in August and September. In fall there are migrants moving -back and forth and some mixing so it is dif- ficult to keep fall numbers down to target level. 100 birds was felt to be enough birds for people to enjoy, yet low enough num- bers so that droppings on bike paths were tolerable. The numbers that Chanhassen wants to look at would probably be below that figure. I would suspect that there are other populations of Canada geese in Chanhassen other than the ones that are causing your problems, so you are not completely removing geese from the City or denying people an opportunity to see them. You may want to opt to go with something like we have in Brookview Golf Course in Golden Valley which is a zero population on the golf course. Other areas of Golden Valley are being left where populations that were not associated with the golf course so that there would be geese in the City. Lynch explained that Chanhassen has three basic types of water in C?anhassen; .resi~ential areas, active parks and passive parks wlth low resldentlal abuttment and little activity. He said that he was quite certain that the City would . in some areas of the City but not . llke to have the geese , ln areas such as beaches and . . . . . . Park and Recreation Commission Public Hearing Minutes May 27, 1986 Page 5 from the droppings of pidgeons, parrots or other birds. There was one case last year on Lake Minnetonka where a gentleman who was operating a rotary mower where geese are known to gather. The droppings were drawn into the mower and the disease was contacted inhaling the dust of the goose droppings. It is not a major health hazard as we have had one case in the last 10 years, however it is real. Someone mowing through these droppings 'with the wind blowing has the potential to contact it. Lynch asked if the the goose droppings had an affect on the water quality. Cooper said that the goose droppings are a source of nitrogenous waste and is readily soluble in the water. However, studies done on droppings indicate that the amount of nitrogen comming from that source was minute compared to the amount coming in from lawns being fertilized. It is not a major source of nutients to a lake, but it is a nuisance on a beach. It is not a health hazard accept when dry and inhaled. Rosenwald asked what effect there was on children playing in the sand where droppings are. Cooper said it is not the kind of thing that will not hurt them, in fact, even if they ate it the acid in the stomach would neutralize or kill the bacteria. Boyt said that she had recently visited Lake Ann Park and had not seen many geese there. Cooper said that frequently the popula- tions reach there peak about the time the adults go flightless when they seek 'out these large open water sites. An example of this is on Long Lake in New Brighten where there are no goose nests, yet we removed over 250 geese off of Long Lake in mid-June of last year. These birds are walking overland seeking the large open bodies of water. What very likely is happening is that the geese are nesting at Lake Lucy and then coming over to Lake Ann once they start mOlting. Sietsema asked D~. Cooper to discuss other means of goose popu- lation control that have been tried and there effectivity, such as; swan and owl decoys, stocking live swans, ultra sonic devices, carbide canons, fencing, flags, scarecrows, etc. Cooper said that swan decoys will work if the geese have a choice, if they do not have a choice they will test limits and figure out what is safe and what is not safe. When the decoy does not move then they forget about it. So decoys have worked in cases where there was an equally attractive site nearby. Scare techniques, such as carbide canons, flags, and scarecrows, do not work effectively without reinforcement. The reinforcement has to be shell crackers shot over the birds' heads at close range or large explosions. Most scare techniques are very temporary. Live swans will work, the only swan readily available is the Mute Swan, however they are very aggressive birds. In fact, a Mute Swan was responsible for the death of fisherman in Ohio. Another fact to consider with the swan is keeping them in captivity and rounding them up and housing them in the winter. Free flying Mute Swans are not allowed in Minnesota as they are a nuisance in areas lO Park and Recreation commission Public Hearing Minutes May 27,1986 Page 7 . Sf.; Rosenwald asked if theasurvey would determine what the actual numbers of geese that we have. Cooper said that the field teams would find out how many;t.geese there are, determine how many cap- ture sites are involve~,.what kinds of difficulties we will be facing and then the go~ population. In determining what the target population, Coo~r said it was totally a local decision. If the Ci ty were to deei:'de they did not want any geese at Lake Ann Park, then his goal would be to catch everything and leave nothing. If the goal was to leave 3-4 pairs, then he would recommend to get everything this year and leave the 3-4 pairs when we get to the thiDd year. We can achieve most effective reduction by pulling e~erything out the first year. t Robinson asked if it was the Commission's task to identify the target population. Sietsema said that a goal population should be included in the recommendation to the City Council. S'.. Sietsema asked Dr. Cooper if his people were equipped to include Lake Minnewashta in th~s years program should the Council decide to do so. Cooper indi~ted that there would be no problem in handling that lake as well. Mady asked if a total removal was done at a site, how many geese would there be two to!three weeks later. Cooper said that if surveys were done there'would not be any geese until geese started flying in, thersite would be without geese for about a month. The following spring you would have about 50% of the current population. Mady continued by asking if there would be young that would walk from another site to the open water. Cooper said that the geese are clan animals and would do any moving or travelling as a group before the capture time. Rosenwald said that Lake Ann and Lake Lucy are so close together, would this be treated as one site. Cooper said that they are probably the same population, nesting on Lake Lucy and feeding at Lake Ann. c: . : j ~. Robinson asked how one~would ascertain what a proper density of geese would be. Cooper said that the airport has a goal of zero geese, they are removing all Canada Geese at those sites. He said realistically we know we will never reach that goal, but feel quite certain that we can reach a 95% reduction level. Lake of the Isles set a goal of 100 birds, which means about eight breeding pairs on the ~slands. New Brighten decided that Long Lake would be a goose free site as no one there wanted to tolerate more than one or two pair that may drift in accidently. Boyt asked if there was any way to make one part of a lake more . appealing to geese than another. Cooper said the best way to do that is to mow the shoreline. They are really attracted to mowed grass for grazing. However, this is not always possible in wet, marshy areas. '~ ., . . . Park and Recreation Commission Public Hearing Minutes May 27, 1986 Page 9 and Recreation Commission recommends that the City proceed with the proposed program which involves the removal and relocation of Canada Geese at Lake Ann, Lake Lucy and Lake Susan. The objec- tive of this program would be to maintain three breeding pair, or about 30 birds at each site, and to review the Canada Goose popu- lations on an annual basis. The motion was seconded by Mady and carried unanimously Lynch made a motion, due to citizen participation from the Lake Minnewashta area at the public hearing, the Commission suggests that the City Council consider extending the program to include that lake if the City has alternate, non-park funds to do so. Dr. Cooper has indicated that the cost of adding this site would be about $500-$750. The motion was seconded by Rosenwald and carried unanimously. Robinson made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:30 p.m. The motion was seconded by Boyt and carried unanimously. Prepared by Lori Sietsema, Park and Recreation Coordinator