By Troy Gillard

aggressive birds

Blackfalds testing beacon lights to control goose population

Apr 13, 2020 | 12:06 PM

The Town of Blackfalds is taking a gander at a new way of controlling the local goose population.

The town says it has installed small solar beacon lights in McKay Ranch to test the effect on the Canada Goose population. If successful, the Town believes this is the most humane way to maintain the geese population and reduce the possible threat to those using our parks and playgrounds.

“These lights will temporarily disable their nighttime defense to spot predators,” the Town says on its website. “If geese can’t spot predators, they can’t defend themselves and will not sleep. If geese cannot spot predators or sleep, they will move to another location where they can find security.”

Town officials say the solar-powered, weather proof, lights charge during the day and flash 360 degrees at eye-level of the geese.

An increasing residents have contacted the Town with concerns regarding their safety and the safety of their neighbourhoods because of geese, Tow officials say, with one family unable to leave their home due to the presence of “very aggressive geese.”

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The Town says they discussed the issue with Alberta Animal Services, Medicine River Wildlife Centre and Canadian Wildlife Service. Options they received included the culling of eggs, entrapment and relocation, habitat alteration and deterrents.

“Many of these solutions did not align with the Town’s values,” officials explained. “The goal is to not decrease the population. The ultimate goal is to deter geese from nesting in our high traffic areas and encourage them to build their homes in areas that are not often used by our community.”

The test is only currently being done in McKay Ranch, is temporary, and will not be introduced in other parks until further research has been done, Town officials conclude.