Geese Control Measures in Sydenham to Include Herding Dogs and Birds of Prey

South Frontenac Township will be using birds of prey and herding dogs at Sydenham Point Park this spring to keep geese away and keep the park and beach clean and safe so it can remain open this summer. The birds of prey are from Royal Canadian Falconry in Haliburton.

“We wanted to get a jump on our geese control measures this year,” says Tim Laprade, Manager of Recreation and Facilities. “With avian flu in the region, beach closures last summer due to elevated eColi counts, and the regular risks that come with having geese that can be aggressive where families are gathering and there are day camps for children, we are trying to do everything possible to keep our parks and beaches clean, safe and open this year.”

The use of herding dogs and birds of prey which are a natural predator for gulls and birds are an effective, humane way to redirect geese from public parks to more naturalized areas. The Township has already begun monitoring the area for nests, eggs and returning flocks and has permits to remove nests and eggs, but none have been found so far.

Last year, South Frontenac used herding dogs for the first time to relocate geese with some success. “We did see a fairly significant decrease in the number of bird droppings at the Point towards the end of the summer. The geese would stay away longer each time the herding dogs came, and it even got to the point where the dog would jump out of the truck and the geese were gone,” says Laprade.

The public is welcome to take a gander and watch the birds of prey and herding dogs at work, but not interrupt them while they are working. Laprade also stresses the importance of not feeding the geese or wildlife to help with the deterrence measures.

“Feeding geese can make them reliant on humans and make them more aggressive. If they know they have a food source somewhere, they won’t go away, so we’re asking for the public’s cooperation once again to not feed the geese, gulls or any wildlife on public property.”

KFL&A Public Health monitors the water quality at all municipally owned or operated public beaches within the Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington region. Monitoring is done weekly from early June until the end of August and includes a visual inspection of beach conditions and testing for bacteria.