A few months ago I came across a story about some Orillia area beaches being invaded by large flocks of geese.
The article listed some high cost options to try and clear the nuisance birds from the beaches. I laughed to myself and said I would do it for free if I could bring my shotgun to the beach for 1 week. I almost commented my thoughts on the article’s website, but I thought that may be a ‘bit’ much. Just this week the same paper wrote an article about their current solution.
Enter…Gator the dog.
The article shares a great story about this dog (Gator) that patrols the beaches and scares the geese to flight. Although I am sure his services are not free, I think this sounds like a decent idea.
This was until I saw the following line in the article:
‘Gator’ is a welcome sight around beaches and parks around North Simcoe. The 14-month-old Border Collie offers effective and humane goose control.
Humane goose control? I guess we are to think by that statement that any ‘control’ method that does NOT involve killing is humane. As much as I am happy for Gator and his owner, all they are doing is sending the problem geese and their ‘droppings’ to someone else’s beach front or where the dog is not able to patrol. It is only temporary.
My guess is when the geese become even too numerous for the doggie patrol another costly method will be looked at. No doubt that involves no killing. I wonder if article writer enjoys an inhumane turkey dinner or bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken?
My offer to do it for free still stands. I wonder if the PETA would like to know how these geese are being harassed by a dog?
Bill Anderson
Muskoka Outdoors
