The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) is piloting two projects – deterrent buoys and goose hazing – as part of its efforts in 2023 to deter geese on beaches and other nearby parkland. Goose poop in these areas can can make conditions not just unpleasant, but also unhealthy. Large groups of geese roosting (resting overnight) or loafing (daytime congregating) on beaches can elevate a lake’s E. coli levels above state standards, requiring beaches to close.
Staff are monitoring both projects to determine whether they are viable options for MPRB’s Canada Goose management program.
1) Deterrent buoys at two Minneapolis lakes
Specially designed buoys are equipped with flashing lights that are close to the water and visible only at night or in low-light conditions. They are installed in the water near Bde Maka Ska 32nd Street Beach and Lake Harriet Southeast Beach: sites where geese are known to roost or loaf.
The buoys should not present a public nuisance, as their solar powered lights are quite dim. Their purpose is to disrupt geese’s sleeping patterns and encourage them to disperse. Geese choose beaches where they feel safe to sleep and the flashing lights are intended to cause them to feel less secure. The desired result is that geese choose other locations to sleep and feed.
Image provided by contractor
2) Goose hazing with trained dogs
The project uses professionally trained dogs and their handlers to safely harass Canada Geese at Bde Maka Ska Thomas Beach, Wirth Lake Beach and nearby parkland. These beaches have been known to close during the summer due to high E. coli levels, which are often linked to large amounts of goose waste.
The goal of this deterrent activity is to make the beaches and nearby parkland less favorable for geese’s daily roosting and loafing: Repeatedly bothering (harassing or hazing) the geese encourages them to seek other locations.
This project begins in mid-July, after the this year’s goslings have molted and can fly. For the first five weeks, dogs and handlers will visit the beaches five days a week, Monday through Friday in the mornings or evenings near sunset. The schedule will then shift to three days a week through early September.
Goose hazing is performed in compliance with state and federal guidelines as well as humane harassment standards. Dogs and handlers from a contractor will clear the sites of geese that can fly during each visit; they will not harass injured or molting birds and goslings.
For additional information, please contact Customer Service: 612-230-6400 | info@minneapolisparks.org