What’s good for the goose...

Jeff Helsdon, Editor

Tillsonburg council waded into an issue plaguing many municipalities when it discussed issues associated with burgeoning Canada goose problems.

Coun. Kelly Spencer put forward a notice of motion at the last meeting calling for town staff to look at potential solutions to the number of geese on Lake Lisgar. The motion directed the Director of Recreation, Culture and Parks to prepare a report looking at methods to deter the geese from entering roadways and the neighbouring properties.

Spencer spoke to the motion, citing problems with geese on roadways, birds being hit, and children being chased.

“I’m wondering if something that can mitigate the migration onto the road,” she said. “I’m just asking for a report to see what we can do for the geese safety, as well as the residents.”

With the motion mentioning the goose excrement on the docks, Coun. Chris Parker said the docks are already supposed to be cleaned on a day-to-day basis.

Coun. Chris Rosehart suggested adding something to the motion telling the public not to feed the geese.

“The more they feed them, the more they’re coming,” she said. “You can go by at 5:30 in the morning and there’s people there feeding them.”

Mayor Deb Gilvesy suggested coyote decoys would work if staff moved them around.

Coun. Pete Luciani added a little humour to the debate, asking whether these were fake decoys or a person in a coyote outfit, as one of the other councillors referenced Wile E. Coyote. Gilvesy assured she was talking about decoys.

The motion passed as it was originally presented.