FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 15, 2017
Ohio Wildlife Center Statement on Scioto Mile Geese Control
The recent decision by the Columbus Department of Recreation and Parks to euthanize 250 Canada geese at the Scioto Mile Riverfront Park has drawn great public attention to a significant wildlife issue.
Consistent with the mission of Ohio Wildlife Center to offer a non-lethal, permanent exclusionary service to the community for human-wildlife conflicts, our SCRAM! Wildlife Control formally contracted with the Columbus Department of Recreation and Parks in 2016 to provide geese mitigation at the Scioto Mile.
The behavior of the geese to frequent this area along the river has been perpetuated for centuries as the geese seek reliable food, water and safety. The Scioto Mile is a historic waterway for geese to navigate at the same time that it has been developed as a popular urban park space within a growing city. A goal of having zero geese at this location is not only unrealistic, it is environmentally counter to natural wildlife behavior to find safe nesting and refuge along a dominant river.
Using humane solutions to address populations of native wildlife that inhabit natural waterways such as rivers and streams in urban areas requires multi-year efforts of professional wildlife managers who understand nesting, feeding and natural animal behaviors. At Ohio Wildlife Center we work collaboratively with state and federal wildlife agencies to carry-out this work and are certified through the state’s Division of Wildlife.
Through SCRAM!’s experience providing geese mitigation for 32 ponds in the city of Dublin and at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, we know that there are no quick fixes to geese adapting to human landscapes. Research suggests drastic termination often only re-sets the habitat for new waterfowl to fill in. Long term modification requires tactics across seasons to reach lasting environmentally sound outcomes. With our approach to educate the current population of geese to feel unsafe in these areas through trained Border Collies, boats, motion and noise mechanisms, we have achieved successful population decreases within reasonable and realistic timeframes.
Ohio Wildlife Center and SCRAM! are committed to our mission to educate the public about wildlife, offer humane options to resolve wildlife conflicts, and provide alternatives to extreme measures that do not, in the end, permanently deal with the issues of wildlife trying to adapt and live in dense urban areas. We work with all of our SCRAM! clients to educate them on the complexities of long-term mitigation and the unintended consequences of culling and euthanizing wildlife.
As the population of Franklin County grows, Ohio Wildlife Center is hopeful the public will continue to recognize our organization as a vital community resource with knowledgeable wildlife professionals who can assist with the predictable wildlife issues that result from the loss of natural habitats.
On August 16th, 2017 the Columbus Dispatch published a Letter-to-the-Editor from Ohio Wildlife Center regarding the recent coverage of the geese mitigation at the Scioto Mile. The letter can be accessed at: http://www.dispatch.com/op
The original news story that prompted this letter and this statement is here: http://www.dispatch.com/news/2