With a robot and lasers, Des Moines declares war on geese
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Des Moines' geese battle is in full swing with metro cities bringing in the big quacks for help — robots, lasers and high-vis vests.
Why it matters: Geese overpopulation can jeopardize airplane safety and their droppings degrade water quality, create foul trails and negatively affect park aesthetics.
State of play: DSM adopted a comprehensive Goose Management Plan in 2021 and is now testing laser devices as part of its broader anti-goose scare tactic arsenal.
- The city has experienced "adequate success" in utilizing so-called aversive conditioning techniques to get geese out of recreational areas, Mike Gaul, Des Moines Parks and Recreation Parks manager, tells Axios.
- Such techniques include flashing lights mounted on city vehicles, sound deterrent systems known as "goose guns" and high-visibility vests worn by staff to create a menacing presence.
Zoom in: City officials are also watching Urbandale's Gerdie the Goose Getter, a remote-controlled deterrent made a decade ago by a now retired parks employee. Gerdie glides over ponds to shoo away troublesome waterfowl.
- Geese usually flee when Gerdie arrives, Allison Bose, a horticulturalist who operates the device, tells Axios.
Behind the scenes: Many scare tactics are paused during late spring to early summer when goslings cannot fly and adult geese are molting, Gaul said.
Yes, but: Habitat modifications are ongoing, including the planting of tall vegetation near water and the addition of landscaping elements to deter future nesters and the mess they bring.
Our thought bubble: We'd love to see a laser-eyed Gerdie patrolling Easter Lake.
