Take a gander at how the Goosinator is herding geese in Lethbridge

The City of Lethbridge in Alberta has found a unique solution to manage its growing population of geese at Henderson Lake Park – the Goosinator. This bright orange, menacing device with sharp teeth and piercing yellow eyes is a remote-controlled tool designed to haze geese and other waterfowl.

Erin McIlwraith, the parks operations coordinator for the city, explained that the Goosinator is part of a larger goose-management plan aimed at reducing the number of resident geese that linger in Lethbridge over the winter. The goal is to keep the geese healthy and maintain water quality by encouraging them to migrate as they should.

Invented by Randy Claussen in Colorado, the Goosinator is a two-foot-long styrofoam-based device that mimics a predator. Its intimidating features, such as the propeller nose, large teeth, and fluorescent orange color, work together to deter geese from staying in one area. Nelson Houle, the operator of Henderson Lake’s Goosinator, emphasized the importance of repetitive use to reinforce the geese’s aversion to the device.

The city has seen a significant increase in waterfowl populations in recent years, with many birds choosing to remain in Lethbridge instead of migrating south for the winter. This behavior is attributed to warmer weather and human interference, leading to issues such as human-goose conflicts, feces accumulation, and water quality degradation.

McIlwraith highlighted the importance of using the Goosinator to encourage geese to move to different areas, especially as the lake water freezes over and reduces the available swimming spots for waterfowl. By using the device strategically, the city hopes to prevent disease and fungal infections that can spread among the birds in close proximity.

The Goosinator is operated only at Henderson Lake for now, as other ponds in Lethbridge have frozen over completely. It is important to note that the device does not physically harm the birds, as the city’s priority is to protect both park users and the geese. Houle described the Goosinator’s movements as gentle, aimed at deterring the geese with its colors and sounds rather than chasing or harming them.

Overall, the City of Lethbridge is using the Goosinator as a strategic tool in its goose-management plan, carefully monitoring its impact on the waterfowl population. This innovative approach showcases the city’s commitment to balancing environmental conservation with effective wildlife management practices.