Three Rivers Park District Budgets for More Goose Roundups | News

According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the goose population has increased dramatically around Minnesota's residential areas and lakes. Geese have become so populous and problematic, that the DNR has now included the "Homeowners' Guide to Goose Problems" among its resources online.

Three Rivers Park District has an aggressive goose management program in place to control Canada geese. In fact, the district has budgeted to double the number of roundups it does this year, as compared to last year. District officials are prepared to hold six roundups this year, where geese will be trapped, netted then sent to processing plants. The meet is donated to area food shelves.

Director of Natural Resources for Three Rivers Park District, John Barten, says explains "we see issues with too many geese at swimming beaches, too many geese at golf courses, too many geese in private properties." Bacterial contamination from goose droppings closes Minnesota lakes each year. To combat that issue, the district has erected fences around many of its lakes and has also natural barriers such as trees and tall grasses to form between grassy areas and the shoreline. Barten explains, "they don't like walking in tall grass... because they're vulnerable to predators."

The district will hold its first roundup of the year next month at up to six of its parks.