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MINUTES <br />CITY COUNCIL <br />MAY 10, 2006 <br />droppings are a major problem. In addition to Chis problem, geese have <br />strong pair bonds and parental defense instincts. They are also <br />homebodies that return to the same areas year after year. Geese are long <br />lived and have strong survival rates given the lack of predators. Other <br />impacts are the noise factors in the spring and aggressive male birds. <br />Cooper then focused on the problem of the goose droppings and the <br />pathogenic organisms in those droppings. He also outlined the potential <br />for Canada geese to be carriers of the avian flu, and noted Che sU-ong <br />connection between the wafer fowl of North American and Eurasia. <br />Cooper indicated that if the avian flu becomes common in Canada geese, <br />the virus will be in the droppings. Cooper felt keeping the population <br />down is a proactive step cities can take. <br />Cooper addressed other goose management methods in detail such as <br />fencing, herding dogs, noise makers, decoys, hunting, amino <br />contraceptives, and egg addling, and noted that these methods are noC <br />effective in reducing the goose population. He noted that even with <br />hunting in the rural areas, the population in those areas continues to grow. <br />Keis asked how communicable disease was from goose droppings to <br />humans. Dr. Cooper reported on two studies of this issue pointing out that <br />one route of Cransmission was through ball playing in parks. Handling of <br />balls that have come in contact with goose droppings and transmitting <br />bacteria from hands is a significant issue. Other routes of transmission <br />include bacteria from goose droppings on shoes and wheelchair wheels. <br />Cooper reported Chat there has been no study on the mowing and <br />aerosoling of droppings. Cooper noted that while there is a big concern <br />with Che avian flu, there are other illnesses such as summer flu and gastro <br />intestinal illnesses that are likely caused by the bacteria in goose <br />droppings. <br />Keis asked if the Canada goose will be a logical carrier of the avian flu. <br />Cooper replied that Che concern for spreading the disease is with migratory <br />birds, and not the poultry that is raised indoors. Cooper reported that how <br />to address the issue of avian flu and its spread has not yeC been <br />determined, but noted ChaC iC is wise to keep the population down. If the <br />virus is contracted by the Canada goose, there will be advisories to avoid <br />contact wiCh droppings and it may be necessary to close some of the parks <br />and public areas during the summer and fall. These measures assume that <br />the virus does not mutate to a point where there is human to human <br />transmission. <br />Blesener asked how many cities have contracted with Cooper for goose <br />round-ups. He replied that the number varies from year to year, but last <br />3 <br />