Dogs can take a bite out of city's goose problem
Regarding the recent “euthanizing” of the goose population at Sandpoint’s City Beach, as a concerned citizen, I feel obligated to share a foolproof and enduring solution to our poop problem: change the dog policy at City Beach.
Recently, Sandpoint city officials partnered with the USDA Wildlife Service to resolve the sanitation problem. After trying “every possible non-lethal solution,” Mayor Shelby ultimately sanctioned euthanizing the waterfowl. On June 23rd, agency members rounded up an estimated 150 Canadian geese and killed them “in the most humane way possible.”
In the aftermath of the massacre, it is apparent that the waterfowl will nonetheless inhabit City Beach and that our public lawns will nonetheless be blanketed with goose poop. The problem remains unsolved. The mayor will certainly face the same dilemma in the future.
Thankfully, there is a long-term and humane solution: change the dog policy.
The goose problem at City Beach is a wildlife imbalance. These geese fear no natural predators; therefore, they enjoy free reign over the grassland. Dogs — like wolves, bobcats, or coyotes — will shift the balance of nature at City Beach. Hence, the geese will be forced to adapt and relate.
Imagine that for a few days a week — say Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays from 7-10 a.m. — dogs were allowed to run off-leash at City Beach. The intelligent geese would quickly get the message: Life on the lawn is not what it used to be. Some rowdy rascals have moved into the neighborhood! In their own goose language, the word would spread like wildfire: Our children are in danger. It’s not safe here anymore. It is time to move out!
How do I know that my plan will work? I have witnessed the results firsthand.
While living in the Seattle area, I had a good friend who owned a luxurious waterfront property on Mercer Island. She had a boat dock, a manicured lawn, and, of course, an ongoing goose poop problem. When I visited her home, I brought along my dog, Julia. (Julia is Jack Russell/beagle who loves chasing geese.) Guess what happened? Julia chased the geese off my neighbor’s dock.
Subsequently, my neighbor asked if I’d leave Julia in her backyard for a few days each week while I was working.
“Sure,” I agreed. “She’d love that.”
Fast forward one month, and my neighbor’s yard was virtually poop-free! The geese had flown off to find safer pastures, and my neighbor had her dock back. Not one goose was killed in the process.
In Sandpoint, we live in a majestic part of America. Wildlife are our friends and our respected neighbors. At City Beach, we have a wildlife problem, which requires a wildlife solution. Dogs are the solution.
I formally invite the mayor (and/or other city officials) to take me up on my challenge: Allow several days a week for dogs to be off leash at City Beach. If this simple action does not dramatically help the situation, then I will write a letter, eating my words.
It is incumbent upon our community to use creative problem-solving and find a way to live in harmony with nature and the animals. If we do not attempt this humane and simple solution, then we will continue along our current path of slaughter.
The practice of rounding up geese from their homes and killing them in sweeping numbers is beneath the dignity of the good people of Sandpoint. We mustn’t make the same mistake twice. Let us carefully re-examine our policies; good stewardship over these animals requires us to activate a humane and dignified solution.
MATT LOME
Sandpoint