A wild goose chase in Sisters country

On any given day in Camp Sherman, you can see loving mates walking through the woods following other couples similarly engaged - who are not necessarily legally married.

They're geese.

Local residents report concerns that, unlike their human friends, the geese may take affrontedly at being followed too closely and actually turn around and chase them off the path. However, when The Nugget talked with USDA Wildlife Services, they didn't report any goose attacks on people, yet it's easy to understand why residents might think it could happen. Geese are loud and stand their ground, which is scary behavior to someone taking a quiet stroll.

About four years ago Black Butte Ranch (BBR) joined a study to control the local goose population. According to Loy Helmly, general manager at the Ranch, many geese have decided they like it here year-round and are not migrating. Dave Williams of the USDA explained that the key determinant for whether geese stay or migrate is where they breed.

Waving arms and herding Australian shepherds couldn't keep the geese off the golf courses at BBR, so the next step was population control using hand-fed OvoControl G which prevents egg hatching. Administration was managed by USDA Wildlife Services.

According to Helmly, the main concern about the Canada Geese at BBR has been the mess. Wildlife Services originally approached the Ranch for the management program, Helmly stated.

Wildlife Services also entered into agreements with five parks within the Bend Metro Parks and Recreation District with the core areas being at Drake Park and Pioneer Park where there were concerns about children being in contact with so many bird droppings.

Bird populations in the Bend parks range from 150 to 800 birds. BBR was reported as having a 250 bird population in winter and over 1,000 birds in spring, fall and summer on their 2,500 acres, according to USDA's study.

Helmly feels the program has been a success at Black Butte Ranch and the Ranch is going to continue to use OvoControl G for their goose management efforts.

Nicarbazin, brand name OvoControl G, was originally used to treat disease in chickens and has been registered by the FDA since 1955. Reduction in egg laying and hatching was a side effect. It is a chemical and is not hormonal like human birth control. The bait must be fed daily to be effective. The main purpose of the study was to ensure no threatened and endangered species or non-target species ingested the product.

Goose egg management is more than just a walk in the park. It requires rubber gloves and several repeat performances. Oiling which prevents oxygen from reaching the embryo must be repeated every seven to 10 days and good luck finding and approaching a goose nest.

Sport hunting of the Canada Goose was banned in 1995 because their numbers neared extinction. In the 1980s when their numbers diminished, efforts to bring them back resulted in overpopulation. Goose population numbers have been in constant flux.

In Camp Sherman the new school superintendent warned this correspondent that the geese have been planting themselves on the road at the four corners. Sure enough, there they were, warming themselves on the highway. Fortunately, there's a 20-miles-per-hour speed limit or there might be quite a different ending to this story.

The gander that was at the side of the road immediately stepped onto the roadway honking at his mate to move her to the side of the road.