STEVENS POINT, WI (WSAU) — Stevens Point has decided to continue with previously scheduled measures to handle the geese population.
At the deer management committee meeting on Wednesday afternoon, the committee decided to not pursue culling geese for the upcoming year as a means of wildlife control. Instead, the city will continue with their original plan for geese control measures. Committee Chair John Okonek explains the different tactics the city will use instead of culling. “We will continue to do the plan which we planned for 2018 using other measures to try and scare them out of the area.”
The main measure being used for geese control is a bioacoustic device that scares geese away. Alderperson Mary McComb explains the idea behind the use of the device. “The idea is if you can get them in that period where they’re flightless. When they want to go and eat the grass and poop. If you can get them for several mornings in a row and scare them away that sets their routine for the rest of the year. They won’t want to go there.”
The bioacoustic device was used earlier this year to try and control the geese population. But due to the late snow in April, geese nesting patterns were disrupted causing the device to not be as effective. Anticipating that weather patterns will stay the same, the committee feels the device will work well enough to control the geese population for the time being.
McComb says some of the thinking behind her decision to not peruse culling geese came from public opinion. “I had read a lot of complaints on Facebook. And it just had me thinking that I wasn’t ready to go ahead and recommend culling.”
An update on deer culling was also given at the deer management committee meeting. Culling season is going as normal as 19 deer have been culled so far. The goal is to cull 45 deer in Stevens Point by the end of 2018. The committee’s next meeting will be November 28th 2018.
