It comes up pretty much every Spring at Plum Coulee's Sunset Beach and reservoir, how to control the Canada Goose population, and this year is no different.
"Annually, Council applies for a permit to control the goose population at the Plum Coulee Beach," explained Rhineland Reeve Don Wiebe. "This year's permit does not permit to shoot the geese. Eggs and nests may be removed, and other options to scare the geese may also be used, like firing shots and making noise devices."
With Council not necessarily satisfied with those options, a little research was done and an alternative method was found from the company Away With Geese.
New control method will "alter feel" of habitat
"This alternative method involves LED light technology, and the concept consists of using a solar powered amber light that flashes every two seconds on a 360 basis," he shared. "It's at the same height as the goose's eye level. This device comes as a floating standard, and also just a regular standard on the ground, This flashing light makes the geese feel unsettled, and apparently they leave the area so they don't settle there. We're hoping this works."
According to the company's website, geese often sleep with one or both of their eyes open They can shut off half of their brain to sleep while the other half is aware of their surroundings. The Away With Geese unit emits a pulse of light every 2-3 seconds that puts the geese on high alert and disrupts their ability to sleep. This permanently alters the feel of the habitat. Because geese like to sleep in the same area they inhabit during the day, they will soon choose to leave and find a new habitat that allows them to rest.
Several units were installed at Sunset Beach last week, but the land and water models.
You can listen to the entire Reeve on the Radio conversation with Don Wiebe, below.
