City Of Des Moines: City Implements Geese Management Plan

Des Moines IA

11 May, 2022

3:20 PM

Description

Press release from the City of Des Moines: May 10, 2022 Safety concerns in City parks, on municipal golf courses, recreation trails and stormwater retention ponds have prompted the Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department to implement for the first time a Canada geese management plan. "Des Moines contains many environments that attract Canada geese, and their presence overlaps with human activities that can lead to unwanted interactions," said Parks Manager Mike Gaul. "The geese pose a safety concern particularly now during nesting season, but our park visitors must also contend with the mess the geese leave behind." The Parks and Recreation Department collaborated with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to create the management plan which went into effect this spring. Gaul says the plan includes an end to recreational feeding, modifying habitat and aversive conditioning so geese become less habituated and prefer areas with fewer people. "Our number one goal is to address in a humane manner the growing concerns over geese interactions and to reduce the human-goose conflicts that exist in parks and public areas," Gaul added. This press release was produced by the City of Des Moines. The views expressed here are the author's own.