Border collies hired to control Canada geese
It’s the time of year when Canada geese keep their webbed feet firmly planted on the ground.
Or on sidewalks or parking lots or roads or grassy areas surrounding homes and office buildings.
During the summer months, the pervasive adult fowl shed their flying feathers and are generally unable to soar for the month and a half or so it takes to grow them back.
Which is why Ian, a 6-yearold border collie, remained on a leash during a recent late-morning visit to the Franklin County Dog Shelter, and Adoption Center, a popular gathering site for geese.
With handler in tow, Ian walked around the fenced shelter yard before moving on to the next assignment, humanely harassing Canada geese until they take up residence elsewhere.
“It’s amazing how quickly they cleared off,” said Kelly Martin, a dog handler for Ohio Geese Control, reviewing the fowl-less shelter property.
Andrew Kohn, spokesman for the dog shelter, said the border collie service is the latest effort by county officials to address longstanding goose issues at his office and the nearby Franklin County Job and Family Services building on the North Side.
The birds flock around a couple of retaining ponds in the vicinity and frequent the dog shelter grounds and surrounding areas, creating messes and sometimes threatening visitors, staff and the rescue canines.
“The place gets all dirty, and then people slip on goose poop everywhere, and the dogs are walking in it and the dogs eat it. … It’s just constant,” Kohn said.
Canada geese are a protected species and live yearround in central Ohio. Laser pointers, pyrotechnics and other devices have been used to harass flocks, with hopes of prompting them to move.
Enter Ohio Geese Control, hired a few months back by the county in the latest attempt to push the geese elsewhere. Officials have approved up to $14,750 for efforts this year to humanely control the goose population, said Jodi Andes, spokeswoman for the Franklin County commissioners.
The firm is having success in its efforts. One recent morning, there were no geese to be seen in the fenced area of the dog shelter, leaving Ian a short walk around the grounds before heading to the next assignment.
Martin said dog handlers visit the county properties every day, returning hours later if they see geese. The birds figure out the timing of the arrival of Ian and the other goose dogs and will leave until the coast is clear, requiring staggered timing and repeat visits of collies.
“Geese will actually learn what time you’re coming,” Martin said. “It’s hilarious. I can pull into an apartment complex, they’ll see my car and they’ll start moving.”
Ohio Geese Control has more than 20 dogs trained in humane goose removal. Each canine visits six to eight properties daily during the height of harassment season.
“When the geese see them, they think coyote,” Martin said. “If there’s one out there, he’ll be stalking, he’ll get down low.”
The fowl aren’t hurt in the process, just chased away.