There Should Be A Bounty On Canada Geese

Thank you.

Actually, it wasn't that long ago that Canadian Geese were an incredibly rare sight. They were on their way to extinction before several different organizations started raising and freeing them in areas that they were not native in (for instance, along the southern shores of the great lakes). Now, we have many geese that migrate entirely within the US and never make it back to the more northerly parts of Canada that they used to inhabit. A shame, really. They went from being regal birds to giant, angry, hissing pigeons simply by where they now spend their summers.

There is now a solution. Those cutout wooden black dogs do scare off the geese. At Johnson and Johnson they put those scare dogs up and I have not seen any geese there for weeks.

This is the time of year that the mommies have babies so maybe they're honking so the swans clear out and they can hatch their babies in peace.

Here in SE Michigan, they've taken over. They've pushed the ducks out. Twenty years ago they were nonexistent around here. I think they should organize mass kills, and harvest the meat for the poor.

I heard they have been trained up specially to honk loudly whenever they see an idiot!

Noob wrote:

Actually, it wasn't that long ago that Canadian Geese were an incredibly rare sight. They were on their way to extinction before several different organizations started raising and freeing them in areas that they were not native in (for instance, along the southern shores of the great lakes). Now, we have many geese that migrate entirely within the US and never make it back to the more northerly parts of Canada that they used to inhabit. A shame, really. They went from being regal birds to giant, angry, hissing pigeons simply by where they now spend their summers.

The biggest reason for the increase in CANADA Geese (and bald eagles and ospreys and many other birds too) is the ban on DDT.

Canada Geese were very abundant prior to the late 1950s, and they were severely diminished by the use of DDT.

By the way, do you know what you're supposed to say to Canada Geese? "How's it goin' eh?"

One of them decided to crap while flying over me while I was packing my stuff up at the track. The turd hit the track and exploded all over my legs and backpack. Now, whenever they're standing in the middle of the bike path hissing at me, I stick my leg out and smoke them as I go by on my bike or kick at them if I'm running. I've also got a hunting dog who loves to chase them off of the playing fields that they love to frequent and cover with their shit. I'm thinking of getting a rifle and taking up hunting.

Mute Swans aren't native birds. The Geese have a right to complain.

winky dinky duck wrote:

There is now a solution. Those cutout wooden black dogs do scare off the geese. At Johnson and Johnson they put those scare dogs up and I have not seen any geese there for weeks.

Not the geese in my neighborhood. They don't give a goose-sh*t about the cardboard coyotes placed all over the park.

I counted 180 geese one night, just hanging out, up to no good.

SMJO wrote:

Mute Swans aren't native birds. The Geese have a right to complain.

That is up for debate. Mute swans have long had a migratory pattern from Russia to Alaska, and there's evidence that they have gone through parts of Canada and the Great Lakes region and through New England states and even then over to Iceland. Mute swans also have a history in Sweden and Holland. They also travel down the Pacific coast.

They get the tag of non-native birds because people DO acquire them and put them on their property because they look nice and they eat tons of algae.

Do you live in Indianapolis?

Why don't we just eat them?

Anyone ever eat one?

Anyone got a recipe?

Tom

Derderian wrote:

Why don't we just eat them?

Anyone ever eat one?

Anyone got a recipe?

Tom

I've heard them described as oily and rubbery and not very tasty at all. Also, (though Letsrun's Pete says this isn't the case) I once saw a television report about them that described them as often being parasite riddled and sometimes (depending on where they migrate through) high in mercury. I don't believe everything I hear though, but since I've got other options for fowl, I'll opt not to eat them.

I doubt if they have mercury since they eat grass and digest it like cows. They are not top of the food chain, predators.

Maybe they taste like grass-fed beef?

Maybe they are full of the chemicals people put on their lawns?

Tom

Here in Virginia there are different regulations for migratory geese and resident Canadian geese. During the migratory season there are low limits. However during the non-migratory season the limits are much higher precistly because we have a large established non-migratory population that is viewed as a pest. Not sure how many states are like that. I don't hunt so I'm not exactly sure of the regulations.

One of my co-workers gave me a goose her husband shot and I have been enjoying that. Not the best meat ever, it can get a little tough but it is pretty good if well prepared.

Flagpole wrote:

Derderian wrote:

Why don't we just eat them?

Anyone ever eat one?

Anyone got a recipe?

Tom

I've heard them described as oily and rubbery and not very tasty at all. Also, (though Letsrun's Pete says this isn't the case) I once saw a television report about them that described them as often being parasite riddled and sometimes (depending on where they migrate through) high in mercury. I don't believe everything I hear though, but since I've got other options for fowl, I'll opt not to eat them.

I say poison them all and feed them to the homeless people! Kill two birds with one stone... err poison.

they're good for pate and pillows

Eat the rest or leave as a warning to the other geese, as you please.

Well if we can't eat them, then let's use them as fuel. They're nice and plump and would probably burn pretty good in a furnace. Perhaps we could make a car run on them also.