Laser, Kites and Trained Dogs: Cities and towns in northeast Ontario are working with problems

This is a perennial problem: trying to keep the geez away from parks, paths, docks, boardwalks and other public places in the Northeast Ontario.

In this spring, the city of Blind River has installed hooks, owls and aspres -shaped kites to try to intimidate them.

“So we have done it as an experiment in our Marina and left the Giz with a walk of our city on the banks of the river and at both places,” said Mayor Sally Hamman.

“That is a great story.”

Hammann said that employees were asked to come away from the city’s waterfront, and to come up with ideas about keeping their drops.

“I was very surprised but pleasant as they do not hurt the environment and you can buy two kites under $ 100, so it is not breaking the bank,” he said.

“We have some beautiful parks and beaches and when the gizs are there, they have excreta and it is not very pleasant for people to walk.”

Hammanman said so far, the reaction has been positive.

“They love it, they actually do,” he said. “Children are fascinated by kites and people are interested in why kites were there.”

He said that if they continue to see the suuses, additional kites will be added to the blind river.

“Geez is not telling me what they like and what they do not like, so I think the time will tell whether these kites are going to be effective or not,” Hagman said.

‘All deal with the same problems’

In Greater Sudbari, the city has been a goose management program for more than a decade.

Contractors are hired with trained dogs so that they can scare the geese. Loud Bengers and lasers are also used to remove from popular beaches and playgrounds.

“It is much more effective than not having a program,” said James St. John, Superintendent of Horticulture.

“Geez when they graze, it is a mess that they leave that we usually receive a lot of complaints. On a beach, you are in your bare legs, so this is an unpleasant experience.”

St. John said that the population of Hans has been increasing in the last 50 years and said that the program helps to manage them, but he would prefer to see the steps of the provincial or federal government for assistance.

He said, “I think it will definitely help because I know that we are not the only municipality dealing with this issue. I know the golf courses, farmers – we are all dealing with the same problems,” he said.

To use kites, St. John said that he is not sure this is a long -term option.

“Unfortunately, without human intervention, the habit of those things, and they are not affected after a while,” he said.

For many years, Sault Ste. Mary, Michigan welcomed the hunter in municipal parks to shoot the Giz. The program ran its course when Geez started staying away and the hunter stopped applying for the permit.