City of Ottawa honks back at geese on Mooney’s Bay Beach

When there’s a Canada goose in your way, have you ever dared to honk back?

That’s what the City of Ottawa is doing to deter the geese away from Mooney’s Bay Beach.

Since July, the city has employed a large, remote control car to direct geese away from major lanes and paths used by cyclists and pedestrians.

The Traxxas Pro Scale Sand Car weighs approximately 10 kg and is just over 81 cm long. Highly-trained staff guide the car through the mixed terrain for approximately an hour per day.

The sand car offers an alternative to drones which are used across the city to deter Canada geese. Drones cannot be used at Mooney’s Bay Beach due to its proximity to the airport.

More than just a nuisance

Canada geese have a bad reputation in Ontario for their snippy personalities. But there are real reasons for moderating the presence of geese.

Geese eat grass, approximately 1.6 kg per day. A gaggle of geese can provide significant damage to lawns, parks, golf courses and waterfront areas.

And when they eat, they poop. Each goose drops 0.9 kg of fecal matter every single day.

“While a natural byproduct of any creature, an excessive presence of goose poop can make parks and public spaces unusable,” the city said. “The mosaic of green droppings can contain bacteria and parasites that can be harmful to humans and beloved pets alike.”

Without moderation, the geese population can also explode out of control. Let unchecked, urban populations can double in size every few years.

City staff say these geese typically lay three to six eggs each year and can live as long as 24 years.

Even as populations increase, city staff are reminding residents to leave the control to the professionals.