Posted by kidvanwechel (anonymous) on September 16, 2008 at 12:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I suggest the deployment of a team of ninjas to handle the goose problem. With all the throwing stars, nun-chucks, and swords...they'll have FF cleaned up in no time. In addition, with those wierd ninja booties...they won't step in an much goose poop. It's a win-win.

Posted by MichaelPatrick (anonymous) on September 16, 2008 at 2:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The city council should create a committee to address the overpopulation of crybabies in Fergus Falls. Since the 1960s, the number of crybabies living in Fergus Falls, either permanently or temporarily, has increased exponentially.

Posted by metasonics (anonymous) on September 16, 2008 at 4:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

just honk your horn at them and they will get out of the road, and if they hiss at you, just walk away.
the repercussions from this aren't going to be pleasant.
we are going to see more and more maimed, dead, and wounded geese around the city because of this.
if cleaning up the droppings were too much to ask, just wait until we have carcasses piling up.

Posted by TheVikingman (anonymous) on September 16, 2008 at 4:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"we are going to see more and more maimed, dead, and wounded geese around the city because of this."

I ask again...Why? Well technically on the other string you said something about explaining to our children about the dying baby animals...but it is along the same vein.

Do you think the poster was serious about the ninjas?

Posted by brighteyes (anonymous) on September 16, 2008 at 5:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

why not deploy a team to set out some high frequency (inaudible to humans) pitch to deter them from landing in lake alice/grotto for awhile? What about deploying a marksman to take out the wounded/maimed geese, while in effect, scaring the others to leave? I know you think its grossly dangerous, but there is ammunition that, after a traveling a certain distance, disintegrates..and would make for a harmless option? Am I smoking PCP or did I just propose shooting firearms in city limits to the people of FF?

Posted by Granny (anonymous) on September 16, 2008 at 6:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The saying goes that u can run over a person in Fergus Falls and not get into as much trouble as if u hit a goose.

Posted by lovecanadageese (anonymous) on September 16, 2008 at 7:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

According to the article, "The geese are causing a number of problems, from the degradation of shoreline due to their droppings to their aggressive behavior toward passersby to the safety concerns as they cross busy city streets."

The author is obviously ignorant about geese behavior. Geese are only aggressive toward people if you happen to get too close to their nests or if you happen to get too close to their babies. For the rest of the year (10 - 10.5 months), they are absolutely not aggressive toward passersby. Safety concern as they cross busy city streets is also a short term issue, basically when they're walking their young to ponds and later, when they're almost ready to fly. Again, this road crossing behavior lasts a grand total of 2-3 months of the year. And the safety concerns can easily be addressed by posting Goose Crossing Signs and by the media advising drivers to slow down during such times. Slowing down is a public service message that's beneficial for all concerned, geese and people. As for shoreline degradation, aren't we carrying the aesthetics a little too far? Ponds naturally attract waterfowl and we enjoy having them in our lives. If that's a big issue to anyone, then the city should plant tall shoreline plants which will serve to both reduce the population of geese in a pond and also prevent shoreline degradation. The third benefit of shoreline vegetation is that it's beneficial for the soil and water.

Posted by Mel (anonymous) on September 16, 2008 at 7:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Look up some old newspapers from the early 50s, if some hunters shot geese, there were photos on the front page. There were NO local geese. They were hunting geese that flew over.
When the local sportsmen introduced geese it was a huge success. Now there are so many geese that I don't even think you need to have a study done (again), just open up the hunting. We will not be able to do a great amount of reduction of numbers in one or two seasons. Just evaluate the flock at the end of each season.
Those of you who really like geese, never fear, you will not run out of them, unless they get taken by a virus.

Posted by ffrogg (anonymous) on September 17, 2008 at 12:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)

"The author is obviously ignorant about geese behavior."

be careful when you call someone ignorant; you may not be thinking yourself, and, unlike ignorance, that is stupidity.

not once, or twice, but many times, as i was walking around that lake while the geese had their young ones close to, or on the road, the adults would charge hissing in attempt to defend the goslings. the geese are quite noisy at times too. the homeowners there have a legitimate complaint. but the thing about lake alice that annoys me most is: when you sit at a picnic table near a trash bin that has been used by the many dog-walkers to dispose of doggy dookie. i would prefer the goose poo to that any day. it's no picnic.

one solution is to allow people to harvest and market balot:
http://aineesy.blogspot.com/2007/08/how-...

just kidding ;)

i like geese myself. when i was a kid i caught a young goose when i went fishing one day. i named it alfred. alfred followed me everywhere i went. if i would run, or ride a bike, and alfred couldn't keep up, he, or she, as i'm not shure which, would fly along behind me. a very loyal pet indeed.

the local canada geese, and some ducks, are not overly wild and are quite used to living and interacting with people. after many generations of living in the city, they are unlikely to readily want to leave. it's home sweet home to them.

someone should plant a few new trees on that island so those white buzzards will stay offshore. a huge oak would look nice out there.

Posted by mccain08 (anonymous) on September 17, 2008 at 12:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Apparently, in the 1950s, old crabby people were a rarity around Fergus Falls. Clearly, that is no longer the case.

Apparently, in the 1950s, computers were a rarity around Fergus Falls. Clearly, that is no longer the case.

something must be done. save us city council

Posted by doctipster (anonymous) on September 18, 2008 at 12:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

whats ignorant is that the city is going to spend money to figure out what to do with them... take that money use 1/10 of it buy some shells and rid ourselves of the problem... better yet open the season and the hunters will do it for free....

Posted by edrule3 (anonymous) on September 18, 2008 at 1:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Fergus Falls has a quaint charm about it. Start taking away the things that make it uniquely idyllic and the big city vacationers will find no reason to come and spend their money, or open new businesses, or settle here. We need to keep and exploit those assets that set us apart from the run-of-the-mill competition around these parts . . . The RTC is a good example. No one else has one.

I'm no fan of goose droppings either, but maybe there are solutions to that problem in particular. Maybe we could have the Parks and Recreation department pick it up and dispose of it. Come to think of it, there might be some commercial value in it as an organic fertilizer. A nursery might find it worthwhile to collect it themselves. Or an entrepreneur might bag it and sell it somewhere south where they don't have it. You'd be surprised at what sells if the marketing is well thought out.

Just curious . . . has anyone ever done a study on the muck at the botttom of Lake Alice? There might be some commercial value in it as well.

Posted by BloopTriple (anonymous) on September 22, 2008 at 5:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I don't think you know what "exponentially" means.

There are more geese. Probably double. Maybe even more. Not exponentially more.

Yes, Fergus should kill off all its geese as soon as possible. Very bright. Get rid of all things that make Fergus unique, QUICKLY.

Posted by twocents (anonymous) on September 23, 2008 at 4:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I have lived in Fergus all of life and I love walking around Lake Alice. The geese out number the ducks these days but I don't believe that justifies kill them off. Fergus has bigger problems then geese! come on- why do the tax payers have to pay for a study on the geese??? Leave the geese alone and take care of the bigger problems in this town.

Posted by fergusgraduate (anonymous) on October 4, 2008 at 8:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The geese may harm a few houses on Lake Alice, they probably moved there after the geese were already there. The geese are however benefitting the entire city, making it a big attraction.

No one cared about the few houses the new waste facility would affect out by the airport.