“Stop the car!” I instruct my brother on a bright February afternoon. Our target has come into view: a group of Canada geese, foraging on grass close to the dog park. As I get closer, carefully stepping over their grayish-white droppings, I see that one bird sports a white band around its slender black neck. It’s a GPS tracker—part of a new technology-driven initiative to drive the geese out of my hometown of Foster City, California.
THE LOCATION
Foster City, CA
USA
Approximately 300 geese inhabit this tranquil Bay Area suburb, amounting to nearly 1% of our human populace—and some argue that this town isn’t spacious enough for both of us. Goose droppings have notoriously covered our middle school’s lawn, and the birds have troubled residents for ages. My grandmother recalls when geese occupied her garage for five entire minutes before waddling away. She remarks, “I had the urge to eliminate them, but I feared I would get into trouble.”
In fact, that notion doesn’t resonate here. City officials abandoned a prior plan to euthanize 100 geese after an outcry from local environmentalists. Still, the droppings pose a public health risk; the geese must be removed.
Thus, the city allocated nearly $400,000—approximately $1,300 per goose—to Wildlife Innovations, a firm that addresses disputes between humans and wildlife, to harass the geese with devices. The company’s methodology essentially involves “making the geese feel less at ease,” Dan Biteman, the leader of the goose management initiative and a senior wildlife biologist at Wildlife Innovations, informs me.
The necessity for such conflict management is increasing as land development intersects with shifts in animal behavior. Although Canada goose overpopulation is a nationwide annoyance in the US, similar conflicts also arise with other species throughout the country and beyond, including grizzly bears on the Montana plains, coyotes in San Francisco neighborhoods, and savanna elephants in Tanzania’s parks.
Therefore, professionals tasked with managing obstinate animals are incorporating new technologies.
Back in Foster City, I notice a black camera affixed to a tree trunk at Gull Park by the lagoon. They’re stationed in seven parks around the city, set to capture images every 15 minutes and send them back to Wildlife Innovations headquarters. If geese are detected, a biologist promptly drives over to disperse the birds. One team member employs devices like lasers or drones; another brings a goose-disliking border collie named Rocky.
As a specific tactic, staff utilize the “Goosinator,” a small, remote-controlled orange pontoon boat featuring a fierce dog-like mouth painted on its front, intended to incite geese’s fear of coyotes and vivid colors. It comes with detachable wheels and can glide over land or water to scare the birds away. Biteman mentions that the company is considering installing speakers on trees and deploying drones that would emit the sounds of goose predators like red-tailed hawks or golden eagles.
The company also secured federal permits mandated by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to attach GPS trackers to 10 geese. This allows staff to monitor the geese and study their movements and behaviors.
At local geese hotspots, signs resembling “Wanted” posters inform the public about the new initiative. As I observe some offenders grazing (and defecating) on a church lawn, I think to myself: Relish it while it lasts.
Annika Hom is an award-winning independent journalist. She’s contributed to National Geographic, Wired, and other publications.
