SHAWANO, WI (WTAQ)- A Shawano Committee has voted to give Geese a Chance
Over 70 people attended a public meeting on controlling geese that are leaving behind messes in Shawano parks, and many spoke out against the Commission’s idea to euthanize them.
The geese have been causing concern at Huckleberry Harbor and Smalley Park. The Park and Rec Department has estimated that 110-140 geese are at Smalley Park and 60-100 more are at Huckleberry Harbor.
Prior to the meeting, the Commission discussed multiple non-lethal methods to keeping the geese out the parks, but said those attempts failed.”
Methods included native paintings, geese away lights, shoreline strings, owl decoys, harassment by people and simply cleaning up the mess.
The message heard over and over from community members, is to keep trying.
“I don’t want to hurt the geese or anything, just make it uncomfortable for them.”
“I think you let me come and run their dogs, and after a few times the geese get the message and don’t come back.”
“We are just saying that you are always going to have that option. Can’t you hold that option for just a little while, and give some other option a chance?”
“We shouldn’t just jump into euthanasia because we didn’t do enough research about what we could do.”
Others said enough is enough when it comes to failed options.
“Realistically, your first step is going to have to be a roundup, a hunt, or a combination of both,” one community member said.
Prior to public comment, Park and Recreation Director Matt Hendricks laid out four options that the Commission could choose from.
The first option called for no action to be taken, and to leave the geese alone.
The other three called for the city to come up with techniques to harass the geese, but with the addition of oiling the eggs to prevent them from hatching.
The final option called for harassment, oiling the eggs and a roundup.
Hendricks explained that almost every method will likely come with a cost, but having a roundup would cost about $6,000. Many expressed that they did not want to see their tax dollars go towards killing geese.
One citizen expressed concern that a roundup would be a black eye for the city because somebody would video it and share it on social media. Many in the room threatened the commission by telling them that if that video existed, they would share it on their own page.
Must of the discussion form community members ruled out a roundup, and focused on harassment techniques.
Options suggested included having volunteers sign up to walk around the park shinning lasers, hunting or relocating the geese. The most common suggestion was allowing dogs in the park to chase the geese away.
“I think the dog option is possible” Commission member Jerry Weisnicht said. He also said he was concerned about the health dangers by leaving the fecal matter on the ground.
“We see kids down there, they touch things and put their hands in their mouth. It is hard to prevent them from doing it.”
Seth Mailhan agreed that health is a high priority, but stood behind the idea of euthanization.
“It is pretty disgusting to walk around down there. In summer, a lot of people walk around in sandals or barefoot. I still personally believe that the roundup is the best idea.”
That suggestion was met with a outbursts of the word “no” all throughout city hall.
Commission member Bill Krenger suggested the option that would implement harassment of the geese, ban feeding the geese, but would not include a roundup
The commission voted 4-1 to impose non-lethal measures to harass the geese to get them to leave. Those measures have not been determined. Some of the options may also include a cost.
The City Council will have to approve the recommendation next week.
