05-10-06 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES CITY COUNCIL MAY 10, 2006 MANAGEMENT risen to such a level as to be deemed a nuisance and health problem. The PROGRAM program has been conducted each year since then except for 2000. The Program is conducted by Dr. James Cooper of the University of Minnesota on behalf of the City. Blesener noted that the City just conducted a community survey based on a 400 random sample. The results of this survey are deemed to be representative of the entire City within a 5% margin. That survey included a question about the goose round-up program. The results are that 40% of Little Canada residents strongly support the continuation of the goose round-up program and 36% support the program for a total of 76°Io. 3% strongly oppose the program, and 7% oppose it for a total of 10°lo against. The remaining 14% were undecided. Blesener noted that Dr. Cooper is here this evening to give a presentation on the goose management issue and Blesener noted Dr. Cooper's extensive credentials and background in this area. Dr. James Cooper reported that he has spent the last 34 years of his professional life focusing on the Canada goose. He reported on the history of this bird which is native to North America, has a population of approximately 5 million and noted that this population is growing at a rate of 5° to 10°Io each year. Cooper reported that the Canada goose is a grazing bird that was preyed upon by the prairie wolf and the timber wolf during the time of the buffalo. The population of these birds decreased substantially, and after the Depression programs were put in place to restore the bird. In 1955 the Canada goose was brought to the Twin Cities and the population thrived. Cooper noted that in 1973 the goose population in Afton and North Oaks was 1,400 birds and by 1984 the population was 14,000 birds. Cooper reported that if unmanaged, the goose population for the Twin Cities was predicted to reach 500,000 by 2010. Cooper reported that there has been goose management in existence since the early 1800's. In addition to the natural predators, which no longer exist, rural areas have long goose hunting seasons. In urban areas hunting is not effective for safety reasons. Cooper noted that since alternative Cools are needed to manage geese in the urban areas, his research focused on viable options. Cooper presented information on the goose itself reporting thaC they feed almost 24 horns per day, and there digestive systems are such ChaC they have to consume a great deal of food to absorb needed nutrients. Cooper reported that the adult goose can leave droppings from 50 to 1.50 tunes per day at an average weight of four pounds per bird per day. These 2