Residents enjoying parks and green areas in Mississauga should be aware that agitated Canada geese may pose issues for walkers, bikers, drivers, and pet owners during this time of year.
“From March through June, adult geese protect their nests and goslings. They can become aggressive and might hiss, lunge, or block a path if they feel someone, a pet, or a bike is too close,” city officials stated in a recent public announcement, adding that the occasional “honk” directed at people could also happen.
While this behavior may seem hostile, it’s really just a natural defensive reaction from these large birds that can sometimes be bothersome, according to the city.
This season each year sees “Canada geese returning to parks, pathways, and open grass across Mississauga. During nesting season, their defensive actions can create challenges for pedestrians, cyclists, drivers and pet owners,” officials explained.
Even though such encounters aren’t rare, city spokesperson Irene Mc Cutcheon informed INsauga. com that the municipality “is not aware of any reports of attacks in Mississauga this year” resulting in injuries to anyone due to interactions with the large geese.
“However, it’s typical for male geese to hiss and act aggressively toward humans at this time if residents inadvertently get too close to their nests,” she added.
In Mississauga, Canada geese are usually spotted at waterfront locations like Lakefront Promenade Park and Jack Darling Memorial Park as well as other areas throughout Port Credit. They’re also known to gather at stormwater ponds along with neighborhood parks and green spaces elsewhere in the city such as Lake Aquitaine, Saigon Park and Lake Wabukayne.
“Nests can also pop up in busy spots like boulevards, parking lots, sidewalks, sports fields and trails-and even your own backyard,” city officials noted.
“In certain cases where needed, the city may employ safe and humane wildlife management techniques like relocation to help both people and geese coexist peacefully. These measures aim to protect the birds while minimizing aggressive encounters.”
Hundreds of Canada geese relocated annually
The city’s Canada Goose Management Program continues relocating hundreds of these large waterfowl-along with their messy droppings-viewed by many as quite an annoyance out of town for good.
As part of this initiative, officials keep tabs on goose populations and develop plans for relocating them from key locations.
Since 2019 , Mississauga has teamed up with Oakville to capture around 1 ,000 Canada geese collectively each year and send them off to the Jack Miner Migratory Bird Sanctuary located in Kingsville , Ontario.
Mc Cutcheon mentioned that both municipalities are collaborating again this year , with plans for the geese’s relocation expected to take place later this month.
“Geese will once more be moved from Lake Aquitaine , Saigon Park as well as all parks along the waterfront-from Lakefront Promenade on one end all the way over to Harding Estate on another ,” she explained. “The number of relocated geese fluctuates yearly but we handle up to 1 ,000 relocations per annum. It’s been lower lately-with numbers going down even below 500-but that reflects our program’s success.”
The sanctuary near Windsor takes these unwanted urban-dwelling geese every June helping them transition back into nature properly.
The sanctuary operators shared how they prepare these big birds for friendlier environments while making it a somewhat popular attraction during their stay at Jack Miner facility.
A lot of folks who wouldn’t want large waterfowl cluttering their local waterfront or park areas enjoy watching them adapt within a more natural habitat at the sanctuary.
The City of Mississauga began gathering these troublesome birds over 25 years ago sending them away elsewhere due largely because they’ve caused issues since the ’90s especially around waterfront parks where considerable numbers have overtaken certain regions completely.
The big birds tend towards messiness
The sizeable birds aren’t just noisy; they’re messy too-they damage grassy areas significantly posing an overall threat towards park lands according official sources from Mississauga.
“At various municipal parks significant flocks often crowd along shorelines blocking walking paths leaving droppings on benches playground equipment plus paved sections,” commented an earlier report released by City Hall.” This situation hampers recreational activities such as walking biking picnicking letting kids enjoy playtime comfortably within those facilities.”
While officials point out previous relocation attempts resulted “in an overall decrease regarding annual goose population sizes,” sightings show plenty still remain stubbornly present.
The planning process aimed at capturing said population commences every autumn leading into corresponding efforts coordinated jointly alongside Oakville each subsequent June targeting efficient transport arrangements via truck logistics.
Each year permits authorized through Environment Canada’s (Canadian Wildlife Services) provide legal grounds necessary facilitating captures/releases involving approximately one thousand targeted avian individuals destined ultimately heading towards Jack Miner sanctuary.
Prior operations undertaken pre-2019 entailed shipments sent toward Aylmer Ont., until space limitations forced strategic shifts exploring alternative options suited better accommodating displaced creatures’ needs safely thereafter instead effectively managing urban nuisances appropriately thus improving community experiences overall.
At times throughout late ‘90s however extensive migrations were orchestrated spanning distances reaching Canada’s East Coast transporting excess populations encountered locally regularly back then..
Warning Signs include: direct staring lowered heads hissing wing spreading posture indicating larger appearances!
If warnings go ignored expect either single/multiple honker charges rushing forward/flying toward nearby persons attempting pushaway some intrusions trespassing personal spaces unlawfully surrounding precious hatchlings !
The sanctuary near Windsor takes these unwanted urban-dwelling geese every June helping them transition back into nature properly.
The sanctuary operators shared how they prepare these big birds for friendlier environments while making it a somewhat popular attraction during their stay at Jack Miner facility.
A lot of folks who wouldn’t want large waterfowl cluttering their local waterfront or park areas enjoy watching them adapt within a more natural habitat at the sanctuary.
The City of Mississauga began gathering these troublesome birds over 25 years ago sending them away elsewhere due largely because they’ve caused issues since the ’90s especially around waterfront parks where considerable numbers have overtaken certain regions completely.
The big birds tend towards messiness
The sizeable birds aren’t just noisy; they’re messy too-they damage grassy areas significantly posing an overall threat towards park lands according official sources from Mississauga.
“At various municipal parks significant flocks often crowd along shorelines blocking walking paths leaving droppings on benches playground equipment plus paved sections,” commented an earlier report released by City Hall.” This situation hampers recreational activities such as walking biking picnicking letting kids enjoy playtime comfortably within those facilities.”
While officials point out previous relocation attempts resulted “in an overall decrease regarding annual goose population sizes,” sightings show plenty still remain stubbornly present.
The planning process aimed at capturing said population commences every autumn leading into corresponding efforts coordinated jointly alongside Oakville each subsequent June targeting efficient transport arrangements via truck logistics.
Each year permits authorized through Environment Canada’s (Canadian Wildlife Services) provide legal grounds necessary facilitating captures/releases involving approximately one thousand targeted avian individuals destined ultimately heading towards Jack Miner sanctuary.
Prior operations undertaken pre-2019 entailed shipments sent toward Aylmer Ont., until space limitations forced strategic shifts exploring alternative options suited better accommodating displaced creatures’ needs safely thereafter instead effectively managing urban nuisances appropriately thus improving community experiences overall.
At times throughout late ‘90s however extensive migrations were orchestrated spanning distances reaching Canada’s East Coast transporting excess populations encountered locally regularly back then..
