Correspondence SectionADMINISTRATIVE SECTION
THE CANADA GOOSE PROJECT
Dedicated to Urban Canada Goose
Research and Management
INVOICE
Tuesday, October 3, 2000
Canada Goose Removal Services
Mr. Todd Hoffman
Park And Recreation Coordinator
City of Chanhassen
690 Coulter Drive
Chanhassen, MN 55317
2000 Canada Goose Removal Services
5 sites at $700 per site $3,500
72 adult geese at $15 per bird processing cost 1,080
Total
/4,580 ~'~
Please make check payable to the Canada Goose Project and
mail to:
The Canada Goose Project
2195 Dudley Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55108
Thank you.
THE CANADA GOOSE PROJECT
Dedicated to Urban Canada Goose
Research and Management
Tuesday, October 3, 2000
Mr. Todd Hoffman
Park And Recreation Coordinator
City of Chanhassen
690 Coulter Drive
Chanhassen, MN 55317
Dear Todd:
This report on the 2000 Twin Cities Metropolitan Area Canada
goose removal program is a little late this year. After
finishing the most demanding trapping season in the past 19
years in late July, I visited the White Indian Reservation to
assist with the development of a goose management program, and
then presented a paper on Twin Cities Canada goose-aircraft
hazard management research at an international meeting of Bird
Strike Committee USA and Canada. After doing the paper I came
down with an infection that until recently did not respond to
antibiotics. Ail is well now and I looking forward to catching
up on a backlog of reports and research data analysis.
The 2000 program was a busy one with two capture crews working 6
days a week for an average of 14 hours per day from June 10
until July 25th. We trapped geese at more sites (145) and set
traps more times (205) than any previous year, while cooperated
with the Minnesota Department of Natural on a comprehensive
study of contaminants in the Twin Cities geese.
Trapping--In 2000, geese were trapped at 145 sites and 6,738
geese (4,696 goslings and 2,0426 adults) removed compared 126
sites and 6,175 birds (4,250 young and 1,925 adults) in 1999
(Table 1 & Figure 1). The number of birds trapped increased 9%,
while the number of trapping locations was up 15% (Figure 2).
In addition with the continuation of the mild and early springs,
gosling production was only slightly below that of past three
years, which were the highest years in past 19 years (Figure 3).
The 2000 capture crews trapped 99.1% of all flightless geese
they attempted to capture, a 0.5% increase over last year
(Figure 4). However, the extremely early spring did result in
some birds attaining flight much earlier than in 1999. The date
on which the first gosling or adult flew this year was July 4th,
whereas the first goose seen flying in 1999 was July 14th. This
reduced our effectiveness in the second and third weeks of July.
The number of geese dying during trapping was again very low
(Table 1). Only one adult goose and four goslings died during
trapping and transport activities, and no birds were captured
with pre-existing injuries so serious that they had to be
humanly killed.
Goslings--All young geese caught were transported to sites in
Minnesota or Iowa and released. About 3,000 of the goslings
went to Iowa, 700 to the White Earth Reservation north of
Detroit Lakes, and the remainder in northern Minnesota. Iowa
has not committed to taking young geese in 2001, and the MNDNR
estimates that fewer than 1,000 will be needed in state areas
next year. But White Earth Indian Reservation wants more geese
and other Minnesota and South Dakota Indian Reservations may be
willing take young birds in the future. If we cannot relocate
goslings in the future, the MNDNR will require that goslings be
pastured until grown and then processed for the food-shelves.
Based on our 1996 research, this would increase the cost of
removal by $15 per gosling caught. You can estimate the
additional cost to your program by multiplying the number of
goslings captured at your site(s) from the table below.
Goose population changes--Like 1999, we had many new sites
(19%), more sites overall (145), great production (5.5 young per
breeding adult), and a high trapping rate {99.1%), yet the 2000
goose removal total rose by only 563 birds. Last year I
suggested that declining in the number of geese caught per site,
which has declined from an average of 67 in 1995 to 33 in 2000,
was a result of the impact of the goose removal program, and
that the Twin Cities goose population may have stabilizing. A
population survey, conducted by the University of Minnesota and
the Minnesota DNR, was completed last summer but the results not
complied until fall, indicated that the Twin Cities Canada goose
2
population is declining. This survey, done in the summer of
1984, 1994, and 1999, was a random survey of more than 250 MNDNR
protected wetlands and lakes. The population was estimated
24,714 (±2,401) in 1994, and 19,830 (±1,788) in 1999, a 20%
decline. In contrast without management, the exponential
population growth that occurred during the 1968-1984 period
would have continued, and the 2000 population would have been
near 250,000 birds (Figure 7). While a population of this
magnitude seem far-fetched, Canadian Wildlife Service Canada
goose population estimates for southern Ontario show that that
unmanaged goose population has increased from 1,000 birds in
1967 to near 350,000 in 1999 (Figure 8
Health Risk Assessment--A comprehensmve health risk assessment
study was initiated by the MNDNR and the University this spring.
As you may recall, in 1995 when we realized that other states
(Oklahoma, Kansas, and Mississippi) willing to accept adult
geese did not want more, the current food-shelf program was
established. Because geese are primarily grazers, feeding iow
in the food chain, few contaminants have found in goose tissues.
Nonetheless, we tested a small sample from the highly
industrialize Pigseye Lake area of St. Paul for lead, PCBs, and
persistent pesticides. The laboratory results showed nothing to
be concerned about, but, to error on the safe side, a
consumption advisory label of not more than one meal per month
by pregnant women and children has been attached to all geese
processed to date. The current program was undertaken to answer
questions such as "Should the consumption label be dropped? Do
geese at sites other than Pigseye have high lead levels? Are
PCBs a problem?"
The new study identified 25 sites that are either Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) or Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
(MNPCA) contaminant cleanup sites. An attempt was made to
sample 10 adult breeding geese, 5 females and 5 males, located
within 0.5 miles (the summer travel range of flightless geese)
of the hazard site. An analysis of blood lead levels determined
by the University of Minnesota Veterinarian Pathology Laboratory
showed that 1% of the birds had lead above background levels
(0.20 parts per million). The highest level was 0.28 PPM, and
no location had a statistically higher lead level than any
other. These results will be forwarded to the Minnesota
Department of Health for review, and the revision of current
processed goose labeling considered in light of the extremely
low occurrence of lead found. Analysis of PCPs, mercury, and
persistent pesticides will be done next year.
Public Health and droppings--Urban Canada goose concentrations
are a relatively new phenomenon, consequently little research
has been done of the potential health risks, particular those
posed by the abundant droppings . Human pathogens,
Cryptosporidium sp. and Giardia sp., were found in New Jersey
Canada goose droppings, but, no information was presented on the
longevity of the pathogens in the droppings or on a the
likelihood of human ingestion of these organisms. A recent in-
depth study (Feare et al 1999) was conducted in London, England
where introduced Canada geese are causing damage in urban parks
and at airports. These researchers found E. coli and Salmonella
sp. remained viable in Canada goose droppings for at least one
month, and because fecal material was readily transfer to human
hands, especially children, by handling of soccer and other game
balls, the authors concluded that bacteria present in waterfowl
droppings constitute a potential heal th risk to humans using
parkland for recreation activities, and further concluded
... that Canada geese may pose more of a risk than other common
speci es.
While needing further research and not appearing to be a major
threat to human health, I believe it is prudent to advise people
of the possibility of contracting disease from goose droppings.
Children and people with weaken immune systems should wash their
hands after handling items such as soccer balls that come in
contact with goose droppings. Washing is particularly important
before eating. Parents of small children who put their hands in
their mouths should be advised to not allow their youngsters to
play in areas with goose droppings. I have enclosed a copy of
the Feare et al 1999 paper for your information.
Retirement--On June 30th after 28 years of service, I retired as
a full-time facility member and extension educator of the
University of Minnesota. I will continue to work on urban goose
management and research for at least the next five years as a
Professor Emeritus and Director of the Canada Goose Project.
This means the my participation in the cooperative Twin Cities
4
Canada Goose management Program will continue as it has in the
past. The Department of Natural Resources has generously leased
the Goose Project storage space and goose pens facilities at the
Carlos Avery Game Farm in Forest Lake. Because I will be able
to devote my full attention to the goose program, I believe that
goose management services and assistance with goose damage
problems will be better than in the past and provided at a
reasonable cost.
Legal challenges--You may recall that from June 1993 to November
1999, the goose program was subjected to three suits and two
appeals by the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) or
The Humane Society of Minnesota (HSUS). I am happy to report
that there were no new legal actions in past year and that all
of the plaintiffs' claims were answered in court. Suits
continue in Virginia and Washington State and elsewhere, but,
the courts have found that the Minnesota program satisfies all
state and federal legal requirements. Thanks to all who
assisted during the long litigation process.
2000 Trapping at your site(s)--We trapped and removed the
following number of geese from the City of Chanhassen in 2000:
Site
Lake Ann
Lake Lucy
Lake Minnewashta
Lotus Lake
Lotus Lake
Pond At 6301 Near
Mountain Blvd
Pond on Hunter Drive
Total
Date Young Adults Total
No geese found
7/5/2000 9 12 21
7/14/2000 19 14 33
7/12/2000 8 16 24
7/12/2000 48 4 52
7/5/2000 34 16 50
7/5/2000 16 10 26
134 72 206
In summary, we had an excellent trapping program in 2000, but
our resources were stretched to the limit. I'm looking forward
to a similar effort in 2001 with an additional capture crew to
address all requests for goose management. If you have
questions, please feel free to contact me at 651-644-6206 or
email me at jac@fw.umn.edu.
Sincerely yours,
5
Dr. ~ame~ A. Cooper
ProfO~s~r Emeritus, University of Minnesota
Director of the Canada Goose Project
Attachments
Table 1. Adult and immature Canada geese removed from the Twin
Cities of Minnesota, and mortality during trapping and transport, 1982-
2000.
Year I A Total Mortality
I A Total
Percent
1982 195 261 456 2 0 2 0.44
1983 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00
1984 361 492 853 0 0 0 0.00
1985 507 396 903 1 1 2 0.22
1986 636 379 1,015 2 0 2 0.30
1987 740 375 1,115 1 0 1 0.09
1988 1,714 864 2,578 1 1 2 0.08
1989 1,680 1,294 2,974 2 1 3 0.10
1990 1,766 1,054 2,820 1 0 1 0.03
1991 1,685 1,196 2,881 3 1 4 0.14
1992 3,005 1,248 4,253 2 1 3 0.07
1993 2,224 1,083 3,307 2 1 3 0.09
1994 2,834 1,352 4,186 I 1 2 0.05
1995 4,747 2,189 6,936 6 2 8 0.12
1996 3,982 2,256 6,239 1 1 2 0.03
1997 3,978 1,676 5,642 1 0 1 0.03
1998 5,183 2,395 7,578 2 1 3 0.04
1999 4,250 1,925 6,175 0 1 1 0.02
2000 4,696 2,042 6,738 4 1 5 0.07
Totals 44,183 22,477 66,649 3 2 1 3 4 5 0.07 a
a Percent mortality is less than 1 goose per 1,000 trapped and
transported. Of the 45 geese that died, 31 were euthanized due to pre-
existing injuries.
Table 2. Canada goose nests found, eggs destroyed, and geese shot, March-
May, 2000.
Location Nests Eggs Geese
Bass Ponds & Long Meadow Lake 32 158 0
Gun Club Lake North of Interstate 18 99 2
494
Gun Club Lake South of Interstate 17 77 1
494
Legion Lake 1 7 0
Mother Lake 4 21 22
Richfield lake 0 0 0
Snelling Lake 1 6 0
Pickerel Lake 3 15 3
Upper Lake 0 0 0
Crosby Lake 1 8 0
13 58 2
Wood Lakea
Total 90 449 30
aThree nests containing a total of 14 eggs were left at the request of the Wood
Lake Nature Center Staff.
9000
8000
70
5
4
3
2
1
0
[] Total Capture
Grand Total
Captured 1982-2000
66,729
YEAR
Figure 1. Canada geese captured and removed from the Twin Cities
Metropolitan Area, Minnesota, 1982-2000.
8OOO
6000
4000
2000
YEAR
Figure 2. Ages of Canada geese removed from the Twin Cities Metropolitan
Area, Minnesota, 1982-2000.
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Young Per Adult
Young Per Brood Patch Female
0..o.6
YEAR
Figure 3. Canada goose productivity indices, Twin Cities Metropolitan Area,
Minnesota, 1982-2000.
100
99-
98
97
96
95
D, Capture Rate
YEAR
Figure 4. Flightless Canada goose trapping rates (percentage of flightless
geese captured at site), Twin Cities Metropolitan Area, Minnesota, 1982-2000.
NEW
LAST YEAR
REPEAT
Figure 5. Status of 2000 Canada goose trap sites, Twin Cities Metro3olitan
Area, Minnesota.
15
(.~ 125
(0 100
0
· ~ 7'.5
0
_.1 50
0
'-- 25
E
~ o
[] Locations
[] Cities
Year
Figure 6. Damage complaints resulting from Canada, Twin Cities Metropolitan
Area, Minnesota, reported during the 1982-2000 period.
150
0 125
~ 100-
0
75-
0
--.I 50-
0
'- 25-
~ 0
[] Locations
[] Cities
Year
Figure 6. Damage complaints resulting from Canada, Twin Cities Metropolitan
Area, Minnesota, reported during the 1982-2000 period.
250000
225000
200000
175000
150000
125000
100000
75000'
50000
25000~
y = 8.7861eo177 *
10"'(9.0836e-2x)
R^2 = 99.7
A
B
1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Year
Figure 7. Projected Twin Cities Metropolitan Area Canada goose population
growth (A) and1968, 1974, 1984, 1994, and 1999 population estimates (B).
O
o
~L
400000
300000
200000
100000
0
60 100
/
y = 1.6859e-2 * 10^(7.5906e-2x) /
/
O9
R^2 = .
70 80 90
Year
Figure 8. Canada goose population estimates for southern Ontario 1967-99.
Research
The Journal ofT he Royal Society for the Promotion or Health~Ca~~
Canada goose (Branta canadensis) droppings
as a potential source of pathogenic bacteria
C J Feare, M F Sanders, R Blasco and J D Bishop
Chris J Feare, BSc, PhD, Deparlment of Pure and Applied Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT and WildWings Bird
Ma'nagemen~ 2 North View Cottages, Grayswood Common, Haslemere, Surrey GU27 2DN, UK
Mike F Sanders BSc, MSc, Central Science Laboratory (MAFF), Sand Hutton, York Y04 1LZ
Ray Blasco BSc, Central Science Laboratory (MAFF), Sand Hutton. York Y04 1LZ
Julie Bishop BSc, Central Science Laboratory (MAFF), Sand Hutton. York Y04 1LZ
Address for correspondence: Professor Chris Feare, V~ldWings Bird Management, 2 North View Cottages, Grayswood
Common, Haslemere, Surrey GU27 2DN
Key words
Canada geese; disease risk; public health
AbStract -
Carm~ goose droppings, collected in pan~ to which
the public had acxxss, were screened for a range of
bacteria that could be pathogenic in man.
Droppings of Canada geese; and other waterfowl
did contain such bacteria, induding some that are
in°°,ht~l inid droppingr/, w~ shown to ~
aha multipl~ in the droppin~ for up to'6ne month
aft= their deposition by geese. Canada geese ranged
fur~he~ t3om w-at= th,an other ~=tm-fowl sped= and
thus distributed their droppings'ovei' a larger area of
'. park grassland_ This in0re widespread dism'budon of
their droppings lea& Canada geese to pose a g~earer
potential health risk tun other ,~=rerfo~4 studied
:hm'e' but variations in hunmn responses to dmllen~
with bacteria, and vaviationx in human and
WatenCowt behaviour in public parks, renders
quantification of this risk impoxsible. - ~-
Introduction
In Britain, the inm)duced population of Canada geese Branta canademis has
undergone a rapid increase in numbers and range since the 1960s (Gibbons
eta~ 1994) and this increase continues in some areas. The areas favoured by
Canada geese indude grassland assodared with water bodies, habitats that are
found in many urban and rural pad<s, reservoin and golf courses (Allan aa/,
1995). Many of these areas are used by humans for recreation and people
involved in leisure activities are thus likely to come into contact with the large
droppings (Kear, 1963) from the increasing populations of geese. Droppings
are unsightly and fouled areas can be slippery, presenting a potential health
hazard (Conover and Chasco, 1985, Allan et a/, 1995). A further h~axrd
could emanate if the droppings contain pathogenic organisms which are
transmissible to man. There are few recorded incidences of disease in Canada
geese (Maddux er ~ 1987, Shayegani et a/, 1984), but bacteria that may
infect man have not been sought in Canada goose droppings.
The risk of humans contracting infections from bird droppings
depends on:
1) the presence of pathogenic organisms in the droppings;
2) the survival of these organisms in the droppings after their deposition on
the ground;
3) the frequent' ~-ith ~+~ich Canada geese deposit droppings, and the
distribution of these droppings in areas where humans arc likely to come
into con~act with them.
In addition, of course, humans x'ary in their susceptibility to infeaion,
depending upon their immunological responses, but this factor was beyond
the sc. ope of this smd):
In order to inv~i~re the risk of people coming into contact with
potentially path%enic organisms in Canada goose droppings, the authors
greened fresh droppings collected from parklands in England, examined
survival of bacteria, both naturally-occurring and inoculated, in droppiru~
exposed to natu~ environmental conditions, and observed the defaecafion
behaviour of Canada geese to determine how droppings were deposited in
space and time.
In addition, the droppings ora range ofcornmon native waterfowl species
were examined in order to determine whether the pathogen loadin~ of
146 The Journal of The Royal Society for the Promotion of Health September 1999 Vol 119 No 3
Canada goose droppings and pathogenic bacteria
The abundance of naturally occurring Enterobactedaceae (colony
forming units/g dry weight) and moisture content (%) of Canada
goose droppings during the 28 days alter the fresh droppings were
placed in a grass compound under natural environmental
condiUons. Days of heavy rainfall are Indicated.
Colony forming units % moisture
per gram of dry weight content
Rain Rain
1.00E+10 - / / 100
80
1.00E+09 70
1.00E+07 20
10
1.00E+'06 I i ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 0
Date
Colony forming units per gram ~ % moisture
Canada geese were similar to those of other
waterfowl. Also investigated was native
waterfowl feeding and defaecation behaviour,
for comparison with Canada geese.
Methods and materials
Collection of faecal swabs and
bacterial identification
Faecal swabs were collected from fresh
Canada goose droppings du_,'ing the summers
of 1993 and 1994. In 1993, six London parks
were seleaed on the basis of their having a
la~ resident Canada goose population that
used the grassland areas to feed, so presenting
opportunities for contact with humans. In
1994, twelve sites were sampled, induding
sites in London, south-eas~ England and
Yo 'rkshke, northern England.
At tach site, fifty swabs were collected
during August and September by
continuously observing aplSarer~dy healthy
geese and taking a sample f-~m droppings as
soon as they were produced. These were
labelled, refrigerated overnight at 4°C and
taken back to the laboratory for analysis.
In 1995, droppings ora range of other
species of waterfowl that occur commonly in
public parks, both native and ~otic ~pecies,
were collected opportunistically at sites in
southern England and in Yorkshire. These
samples wine treated in the same way as the
Canada goose droppings. Native waterfowl
were mallard Anas plaryrhynchus, coot
Fu~ca atra, moorhen Gallinula chloropus and
mute swan Cygnus olor, and exodc species
were grey-lag goose Anser anser, bar-headed
goose Anser indicus, wood duck A/x
galericulata, Muscovy duck Cairina
moschata, and domesdc geese and ducks
In 1993, identification of Entero-
bacteriaceae isolated on MacConkey agar
(Oxoid Basingstoke, UK) was restricted to
enteropathogenic ~cherichia cob' of Class I.
also looked for, but in 1994 the
identilicadon procedure was extended to
idendfi/ other members of Entero-
bam'r/ac~ and Yen'/ru~ species.
Campylobacter
Faecal swabs were incubated aerobically in
Preston Campylobacter selective enrichment
broth (Oxoid, Baslng~toke., 1310 for 24 hours
at 42°C. A loopful of the broth was streaked
onto Butzler C_.m~l:~obacrer selective agar
(Oxoid, Basingstoke, UIO and incubated
under microherophilic conditions (Oxold gas
generating kit BR56) for 24-28 hours at
42°C. Plates were observed for typical
Campylobacter colonies that were identified
by the APl Campy sy~em (Bio M~fieux).
Enterotmc~eriaceae
Enterobacteriaceae were isolated by
enrichment in buffered peptone water
(Oxoid, Basingstoke, UIO. Swabs were
broken off' into 10mi volumes of buffered
peptone water and incubated at 37°C for 24
hours before streaking on to plates. The
enrichment medium was plated on
MacConkey agar (Oxoid, Basingstoke, UK)
and incubated for 24 hours at 37°C. Isolated
colonies were picked at random, on plates of
Brain Heart Infusion Agar at 37°C before
being identified with the APl 20E system
(Bio M~rieux).
Salmonella species
Salmonella species were isolated by
enrichment in buffered peptone water at
37°(2 for 24 hours followed by selective
enrichment in RappapomVassiliadis broth
(Oxoid, Basingsroke, UK) and incubated at
42°C for 24 hours. Plates of XLD agar
(Oxoid, Basing, stoke, UD and bismuth
stflphite agar (Oxoid, Basing~x~ oke, UK) were
streaked with loopfuls of thc Rappaport
broth and incubated for 24 hours at 37°C.
Suspect colonies were purified overnight on
plates of Brain Heart Infusion Ag-ar at 37°C,
identification was limited to the APl 20E
system (Bio Mirieux).
Yersinia sPeCies
Swabs were incubated in buffered peptone
water for five days at 25°C Plates of Yenfnia
selective medium (CIN medium, Oxoid,
Basingstoke, UK) were sm:aked with the
peptone water and incubated overnight at
37°C. Suspect colonies wm'e streaked onto
brain heart infusion agar before testing with
Canada goose droppings and pathogenic bacteria
· :~ ' London park London golf London park SE Eng park London park London park
Adne~ calco var. l',vof~ 12 ...... 0 .... 0 ' - - 0 -' 0 ..... 0 ...... ' .......
Aerc>rnor~as hydroph~la 6 0 0 28 12 · 32 ::. ;' '-
Citrobac~er ffeundii 0 26 0 - 40 8 0 . . ~ '
Enterobacteraerogenes 2 -- 0 34 : . 0 - 0 -- 0 : .::! ..,':
F-aggl°merans 14 56 0 =. : 0 0 _. -- . _ 32 :,,.
Genus F_scheds~ia 18 0 0 0 0 0
Hafnia ak~ 0 . 0 0 0 0 0
I'gebsie~ oxytoca '? ' 0 10 100 10 2 22
- +
K. pneun'K~iae 6 0 4 0 - 0 0 '
KIWVe~sPP. 0 0 64 58 .' - 44' .' '- 0 ' -' ' -
Genus Proteus 0 0 0 0 0 0 -'
Providenda rege~ 0 0 0 18 0 0 .
Salmonella spp. 0 0 0 · 0 .. 0 0
Genus SamatJa 18 0 36 0 100. 0
Vibdo rnetschnikowi 0 0 0 0 0. 0
148 The Journal of The Royal Society for the Promotion of Health September 1999 Vol 119 No 3
Canada goose droppings and pathogenic bacteria
Survival of bacteria in deposited
droppings - survival of naturally
occurring Enterobactedaceae
100 fresh dmppin~ w~: collccted in June
1995 and phced lOcm apart in a 15rass
compound which was fenced offto prevent
them being trampled and destroyed by
animals or humans. The survival of bacteria
was monitored from 15 June to 13 July by
collecting 10 droppings at four to fr~ day
intervals.
Samples were kept cool (4°C) during
transport to the laboratory. Bacteriological
analysis, for either total numbers of
Enterobacteriaceae or specifically for the
pmence of S. newport, was begun within
three hours.
For the Enurobaa,m~eae, 0.25g of faecal
material was added to 4.75ml of cold (4°C)
s~etile buffered peptone water in a tmive~l
bottle, and allowed to stand for 30 minutes.
From a dilution series, me. da.id pour phtes
were prepared with violet red bile glucose agar
(Oxoid Basingstoke, UtO. Plates were
incubated at 37°C for 24 hours and total
t?]oical Enterobacr. Ma~eae-rype colonies were
Survival of badeda in deposi~
droppings - survival of inoculated
Salmonella newport
5almone#a newport is a typical example of a
Salmonella species which causes food-
poisoning in man; it does not normally
occur in bird ch-opplngs but is obtainable
cormnercially. Its survival in Canada goose
droppings was assessed during 8 Auo~xt to 4
September 1995 (a hot dry period) and
again from 12-25 September (warm and
wet, more typical of British surm'ners, and
fids trial was curtailed by heavy rain which
washed the droppings into the soil).
Approximately 100 fresh Canada goose
droppings were collected, homogenised at a
slow speed in a domestic food blender and
dMded into two equally sized samples. One
sample was inoculated with a culture of S.
newport (American Type Culture Collection
no. 6962) grown overnight in nutrient broth
at 37°C, to give a final concentration of
approximately 104 to 105 colony forming
units (CFU) per gram. The sample was
homogenised again to ensure an even
distribution of S. newpor(, in' the faecal
material. Approximately 50 typical Canada
The abundance of naturally-occurring Enterobacterlaceae and of ..
Salmonella (colony forming units/g dry weight), and moisture content
(%), in reconstituted Canada goose droppings after experimental
inoculation with Salmonella newport 6962; this organism was
Iden~ed at each sampling date. The observation period, 8 August.to 4
September 1995, was predominantly hot and dry.
per gram of dry weight co~tent
1.00E+10
1.00E+09
1.00E+08
1.00E+07
1.00E+06
1.00E*05
1.00E+04
1.00E+03
1.00E+02
1.00E+01
1.00E+O0
Rain
08Aug 95 14Aug95 21Aug95 29Aug 95 04Sep95
100
9O
80
70
60
50-
40
30
20
10
0
Date
~ Total Enterobactefiacaceae count (cfu/g) ~ % moisture
~ Total presumptive Salmonella count (cf'u/g)
goose sized faecal pellets were prcpased by
squeezing the material through a domestic
piping set. A control sample was treated in
the same way, but was nor inoculated with S.
newport. These dropping samples were
placed in a grass compound, fenced as
above. Ten samples were collected for
analysis every four to five days, and in
addition to Salmondla newport, the
abundance of narusally occuting Entero-
baaer~eae that were present in the samples
was also analysed as above. For Salmonella
newport, 0.25g of faecal matcrial was added
to 4.75rnls of cold (4°C) sterile buffered
peptone water in a universal bottle, and
allowed to stand for 30 minutes. The sample
was mixed to resuspend the contents before
the preparation of a clilufion series and
plating out onto Xylene Lysine
Deoxycholate agar (Oxoid Basingstoke,
UK) and incubated at 37°C for 24 hours.
Both the XLD and buffered peptone water
pre-enrichment broth were incubated at
37°C for 24 hours.
After incubation, colonies having the
typical appearance of Salmonellae on XLD
(red colonies with black centres) were
counted. From randomly selected colonies
S. ru'w?ort was positively identified by a
bacteriophage based bioluminescent
detection technique (Sanders and Blasco,
1997). In d~ technique a bacteriophage
with a known target specificity is added to a
culture and the mixa-tu~ incubated. During
the incubation period, infection of specific
target bacteria with bacteriophage occurs,
and the phage rcplicafon cyde begins. At
the end of the replication cyde target
bacteria burst, releasing bacterial ATP which
is measured by a bioluminescence assay.