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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 08Memorandum To: Mayor, City Council & City Administrator Brett Altergott, Parks & Recreation Director { From: John Hennen, Park Maintenance & Operations Mgr. Copy: Mark Kruse, Parks Supervisor Mac Cafferty, Environmental Resources Manager Date: April 21, 2014 Subject: Goose Management City of Lakeville Parks & Recreation Background Over the years, Park Maintenance staff has had to deal with the issue of Canada geese congregating at Antlers Park and Beach mostly in the summer months and then again in the fall. Specifically, from mid-June to mid-July when the adult geese are flightless as a result of them being in the molting season and the goslings being too young to fly. The congregation of the Canada goose at the park and beach creates a significant nuisance for park facility renters, park and beach users and Park Maintenance staff as a result of the goose droppings left behind. Seasonal staff takes the steps to the best of their ability to remove the droppings; however, it is a significant undertaking due to the size of the park and beach areas and does not get adequately completed on a consistent basis as a result of the personnel and time commitment needed to complete the task. When the seasonal staff leave for the season, it is very rare that full time staff will have the time to complete this work. The droppings also create a health and water quality issue in the beach swim area, whereby increased E -coli bacteria levels have been detected which results periodically in closing down the beach. Management Options Staff has tried and researched a number of goose management options which include the following: 1. Goose Repellants Staff applied two types of goose repellants at Antlers Park last year of which the objective is to discourage bird nesting, roosting, feeding and flock behavior in the area by using scent and taste ingredients to minimize or eliminate the bird activity. Staff found one product to be ineffective and the other product marginally effective. Drawbacks regarding the repellant option include the following: • If the product works effectively, the geese just get pushed to a different location around Lake Marion (i.e. homeowner's property). G:\Maintenance\Word-Excel\MISC\Canada Goose Removal Memo 11 04-03-14 JLH.docx • If the geese are nesting in the area, the product's effectiveness is compromised because the goslings are so young that the mother can't relocate them to a different area. • The cost of these repellants range from $500 to $875 for five gallons which provides one to three applications depending on product and application rate. Over time and/or a rainfall, the product will have to be reapplied if it is to be consistently effective. 2. Contract with Honkers Away (Border Collie Control) Staff has also contacted a company called Honkers Away which utilizes Border Collies to chase the geese off site. This method will take a significant amount of time and persistency to change the geese behavior as they have been entrenched in the area for quite some time. Honkers Away believes that to obtain the best results they would need to visit the site at least five days a week at a cost of $50 per visit. Honkers Away estimates it would cost approximately $3,000 for the year for their services. They indicated the site will also be very challenging as a result of the large beach front which makes it difficult for the dogs to be effective as the geese typicallyjust swim out into the deeper water. Staff contacted the City of Hopkins that used the Border Collie contractual method a number of years ago, and found it was effective when the dog was on site but then the geese returned shortly after the dogs left. Staff also contacted the Golf Course Superintendent at Interlachen Country Club who believes if you don't have a dog on site all the time ready to chase the geese throughout the day, the Border Collie method will not be very effective. They have owned three dogs over the years and run the dogs throughout the day especially in the spring when the geese are nesting. 3. Miscellaneous Deterrent Products Staff has also looked into other deterrent products such as predator decoys, strobe lights, holographic foil tape and electronic bird repellants. Staff doesn't believe these products will be effective as a result of the site being a public park and beach setting, whereby the deterrents will be vandalized or a nuisance to the users of the parks. 4. Contract with Canada Goose Management, Inc. Last summer, staff contacted Canada Goose Management, Inc. regarding the steps they could take to remove the Canada Geese from the site. As noted in the attached proposal along with background information, Canada Goose Management, Inc. would charge the City a not to exceed cost of $2,000 to capture and remove the adult and gosling geese found at Antlers Park and Beach and the adjacent Lake Marion from approximately mid-June to mid-July. The capturing will be conducted on park property, but if needed they will utilize private homeowner property with the permission from the land owner. During this time of the year, the adult geese are flightless because they are in the molting season and the goslings are too young to fly. G:\Maintenance\Word-Excel\MISC\Canada Goose Removal Memo 11 04-03-14 JLH.docx After being captured, the geese are transferred to a holding facility where they are held with fresh water and food. The adults are then transported to a state approved poultry processing plant that processes the geese which then are donated to the local food shelves. The goslings are donated to a wildlife research facility that has a captive wolf population which uses them for food. Canada Goose Management, Inc. has indicated from their experience it can take up to three removal seasons to get the population under control so this option will be a multi-year approach. Funds for the project can be utilized from the Parks General Fund and Environmental Resources Fund. Canada Goose Management, Inc. has worked with nearly 100 different clients in the state including communities such as the City of Burnsville, Bloomington, Eden Prairie and Three Rivers Park District. Tom Keefe, President of Canada Goose Management, Inc. will be present at the Work Session to discuss his proposal. Direction At this time, staff is requesting direction from the Mayor and City Council regarding the option staff should pursue regarding goose management at Antlers Park and Beach. JLH:jI Attachment G:\Maintenance\Word-Excel\MISC\Canada Goose Removal Memo 11 04-03-14 JLH.docx Canada Gose March 15, 2014 John Hennen Park Maintenance and City of Lakeville, 7570 17gth Street Lakeville, MN 55044 Dear John: Management Inc Operations Manager Canada Goose Management Inc. (CGM) offers the following services for your consideration. Canada goose removal at Antler Park and Marion Lake for a trapping cost of $1500 per site and a processing fee of $16 adult and $8 per gosling, captured and removed, with total cost not to exceed $2000/year. The trapping cost covers the deployment of the trapping crew, survey, capture and removal of geese from the site. The processing fee is to cover costs for processing the adults and goslings for donation. This pricing is good for 2014. Removal can only be conducted from mid-June to mid-July. To ensure your Park needs are addressed, we propose to remove geese found in Antler Park and the adjacent Marion Lake. We will try to conduct all trapping on park property, but if needed, we will utilize private land (homeowner) property with permission from land owner. Therefore, please advise me of your removal needs and I will get you scheduled as soon as possible. Sincerely, om'Keefe, Canada Goose Management Inc 7808 Isleton Ave S Cottage Grove, MN 55016 7308 119loton avenue 5. e CottaAe (,rove, MN 5501 o e Phone: o 1 Z-3 IZ-0'_Z4 e f=ax: 0 5 1 --1-55-5 1 is e www.goo5ccrew.com �r . �► v �r trr In the Twin Cides Canda geese populations in the Twin Cities metropolitan area pose a significant challenge. These challenges were identified in the early 1980's with the assistance and research of Dr. James Cooper at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Cooper is a renowned wildlife biologist and professor specializing in Canada geese. The MN Dept of Natural Resources in cooperation with Dr. Cooper and the City of Minneapolis Parks conducted the first Twin Cities Canada goose removal effort in 1982 on Lake of the Isles, when over 400 adult and young geese (called goslings) were captured and relocated to Oklahoma. In 1954, no wild Canada geese nested in MN, but efforts by private individuals and natural resource agencies in the 1960-70s restored the Canada goose throughout MN, including in the Twin Cities metro area. Canada geese are a magnificent bird and highly prized by hunters and non -bunters alike. HOWEVER, too much of a good thing can become a problem. The Twin Cities geography with large numbers of wetlands combined with an urbanization that favors lush green open grass areas resulted in creation of high quality Canada goose nesting and brood rearing habitat. In addition, low natural predation, limited hunting and abundant food resources (that lush green grass) created a "perfect storm" for high reproduction and survival. The problems or complaints began in the 1980's when Canada goose population exceeded the local social carrying capacity resulting in efforts to control local goose populations. Capture and relocation of urban goose populations was an effective way of reducing local urban goose populations and aiding in restoration efforts in other areas. The removal program grew from over 400 in 1982 to 6000-8000 geese being removed annually in the 1990's. In 1996, relocation of adults was no longer possible, so a program began to process the adults and provide them to local food shelves. This change improved the control program and provided a socially acceptable means of utilizing adult geese. In 2006, goslings were no longer able to be relocated and another program that utilizes the goslings for animal food began. To date around 100,000 geese have been removed from the Twin Cities. The removal program along with liberal hunting regulations has provided significant control on Canada goose populations in the Twin Cities. The current summer population of Canada geese in the metro area is estimated at between 16,000-19,000 geese. This population level has been maintained over the past 20 years. It is estimated that without Canada goose removal and liberal hunting regulations the local population within the Twin Cities would exceed 300,000 with a carrying capacity estimated at 500,000 geese. A: Wout. control B. w/control ® e �.e .... ,�.Y....., *Population data from Dr James Cooper, UM Support from the DNR and UM for this program declined in the early 2000's. To meet on going needs for control, Dr. Cooper continued this effort with a private company "The Canada Goose Program". Dr. Cooper retired seven years ago, and CGM was formed to continue these services by Dr. Cooper's former employees. CGM provides Canada goose management services including: • summer removal of geese • spring nest and egg destruction • spring goose removal (limited shooting), population surveys • goose banding • consultant services Local governmental units and private landowners are encouraged to develop a goose management plan to address ongoing Canada goose issues. The cities of Burnsville and Eden Prairie had developed goose management plans and have been very successful in dealing with Canada geese issues. The advantages of a Canada goose management plan is that it provides the city with tools to make informed decisions on what local management needs are and what solutions can be employed to address these needs. A good management plan can address Canada goose management in a more comprehensive and effective manner. This results in increased efficiency for city staff, cost effective management activities, and local citizen involvement and acceptance. Plan development should include: • identification of Canada goose habitat, • existing or potential damage or problem sites, • evaluation or determination of the degree of goose usage and/or damage, • identify potential management techniques that can be employed to address the current problems, • methods to prevent future development of damage sites, • identify funding sources or criteria for funding management efforts, Geese utilize a wide area therefore its helpful to approach this management on a larger geographic scale. Therefore, management plans for a city are more efficient than for an individual site. Canada goose management techniques generally include; Physical displacement of the geese by applying goose repellents, fencing geese in or out of an area, harassment of geese with dogs, or people. Landscaping to reduce attractiveness of an area to geese, buffer strips, prairie seeding, and brushy cover. Population reduction through egg or nest destruction, summer removal, and hunting. A publication that you might find interesting is entitled "Managing Canada Geese in Urban Environments, A Technical Guide" This publication is available from Cornell University at, http://ecommons.library.comell.edu/handle/I 813/66 or contact me for a copy. The MN DNR web site (search for Canada goose management) has a number of publications and information on urban goose management. If you have further questions feel free to contact me... and thank you for the opportunity to visit with you on Canada goose management. Tom Keefe, Canada Goose Management Inc 7808 Isleton Ave S Cottage Grove, MN 55016 612.812.0224 tomkcanadagoose@aol.com