RSPCA in flap as ‘nuisance’ geese face college lasers
A CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY college has been criticised by the RSPCA after using laser devices to scare off “nuisance” Canada geese.
Porters at King’s College admitted using the hand-held devices to drive away a gaggle of 15 birds this summer to stop them fouling on greens and dive-bombing tourists punting on the River Cam.
The RSPCA said it did not endorse the method, although it admitted its approach could change if the device proved to be a “humane” deterrent.
A spokesman for the charity said: “As with humans, we would not support shining a laser directly into an animal’s eye. However, we are aware that the indirect use of lasers to deter problem flocks of birds is one of the non-lethal deterrent methods that is currently being tested by researchers.
“If that approach is proven to be effective and humane, the RSPCA would certainly welcome it.”
Philip Isaac, domus bursar at King’s College, said the lasers had proved successful in deterring the birds, and that plans were already under way to reduce numbers next year.
He said: “The Canada geese are big bully birds and they have scared off the indigenous birds, so there are none here now,” he said. “Two years ago we had around 50 geese on the back lawn and the problem was getting out of hand because they were leaving excrement everywhere and attacking members of the public queuing for evensong in the chapel.
“We used a number of deterrents to drive them away and last year they seemed to find a better spot to go to, but this summer they have returned and are causing a nuisance again.”
“The laser torches seem to be working at the moment and we will also oil the eggs [to prevent the embryos from developing] in the spring to reduce the numbers for next summer.”
Last year, King’s College students held a protest amid fears that the geese could be culled. The suggestion was alleged to have been made at a college board meeting, but was never carried out after the backlash.
One protester told Varsity, a Cambridge university newspaper, at the time: “It’s a shame that the college won’t commit to non-lethal methods.
“What we want is to take the cull off the list of options.
“For one thing, it’s not a very effective strategy as the cull won’t stop other geese from coming here.
“So we want college to consider other alternatives, instead of pursuing a strategy that is both inhumane and ineffective.”
One such device is the Agrilaser Lite Hand Held Bird Dispersal Laser. It costs £316 and fires out a green laser beam which can be seen almost three quarters of a mile away. The company says: “Birds perceive the laser beam as an approaching physical danger and fly away in search for safer grounds.
“Unlike conventional methods of bird deterrence, there will be no habituation effect. After consistent use birds will perceive the area as unsafe and will not return.”
A spokesman for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) said: “As a conservation organisation, the RSPB is not generally involved in deterring and scaring birds or other animals.
“However, we appreciate that in some circumstances people can have problems.
“Non-lethal deterrents can be effective and the RSPB does not have a problem so long as they are being used legally.” The organisation advises that
‘Birds perceive the laser beam as an approaching physical danger’
before starting to deter birds from one location, people should make sure that there are alternatives for the birds to travel to.
If not, the deterrent will not have the desired effect, and will simply serve to distress the birds.
A King’s College spokesman said: “The college has used a variety of nonharmful measures to deter the geese, and will continue to do so.”