Foster City finalizes a nonlethal geese management plan

The geese have been more than just a nuisance for city residents. The increase has reduced water quality within the lagoon, as the high amount of fecal matter introduces health risks, such as the spread of pathogens like E. coli. The feces can also fuel algae blooms and degrade lagoon water quality, city staff have said.

The city issued a request for proposal in February looking for a contractor to help with a management plan, but due to the high cost of proposals, the city resubmitted the bid this spring.

During an Aug. 4 meeting, the City Council approved a contract with Wildlife Innovations for up to about $428,000 for the first year of the pilot program, with the option to extend it two more years.

According to the project scope, Wildlife Innovations will focus on seven high-priority parks — Marlin, Gull, Erckenbrack, Leo J. Ryan, Catamaran, Edgewater and Sea Cloud — and include 24/7 digital surveillance from solar-powered cameras, as well as physical surveillance and GPS tracking of some geese. It would also involve hazing, which could include “lasers, remote-controlled devices, drones, boats and foggers.” Dog hazing is also an option. Wildlife Innovations would also recommend various habitat modification approaches based on data collection, such as “the addition of shrub or rock islands to reduce sightlines,” or “turf grass alternatives to reduce the food availability for [Canada geese], fencing, lighting and other semipermanent or permanent modifications.”

The city also engages in egg addling, however, that is currently conducted by a separate contractor, a staff report said.

Vice Mayor Art Kiesel said he was concerned about investing in the city’s program, without tracking the geese population in neighboring cities to see if it’s simply shifting them temporarily to its neighbors.

“I’d hate for us to pour this kind of money into this program that we’re executing in a silo all by ourselves,” Kiesel said. “If all the [cities’ geese populations] are down, we’re doing great. If we’re down, and the other three are up, that’s a different ballgame.”

Though councilmembers unanimously approved the contract, there was hesitancy on the total amount, given the city’s current financial position.

“I hear from the public what an issue the geese are, and I’m willing to take a chance and see if this works,” Councilmember Suzy Niederhofer said.

The funds are coming from the general fund reserve. For all three years, the cost would total about $1.2 million.