City Using Flashing Buoys to Manage Geese Overpopulation at E.B. Rains Park

Unwanted guests can be a problem, especially when they squawk at everyone and leave messes wherever they want. 

In this case, we’re talking about the multitude of Canadian Geese who like to perch at E.B. Rains Jr. Memorial Park. They can be aggressive when nesting or watching over their young and they’ll go, well … when they need to go ... which leaves a lot to clean up. 

Fortunately, the city has found a humane, minimally invasive solution. Four “Geese Away” buoys have been placed in Webster Lake. The solar-powered amber lights flash every two seconds from dusk to dawn at eye level of the geese, so they can’t get a good night’s sleep. Already, the numbers at the park have begun to drop to a more manageable number. 

Although highly annoying, the lights are not harmful to the geese and not disruptive to other wildlife. Staff reminds you that although the geese are plentiful in the park, they are still wild animals and should NOT be fed by humans.