Rochester Park Board Asked To Expand Geese Population Management

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - The Rochester Park Board has been asked to expand geese population management to another city park.

Get our free mobile app

The Park Board has been asked to approve the addition of Quarry Hill Park as a resident goose management site. In February, the City announced it will use a Humane Society approved procedure known as “egg addling” in areas where there is a high concentration of resident geese including at Silver Lake Park, Cascade Lake Park, Soldiers Memorial Field Park and golf course, as well as Foster-Arend Park.

The board will vote on Tuesday to add Quarry Hill Park to that list.

Addling involves treating or replacing eggs to prevent them from hatching. Eggs will be tested to ensure they have not progressed beyond 14 days of the 28-day incubation period. The eggs that are considered too far along will be returned to the nests.

Last year, Rochester volunteers used a method that involves treating the eggs with corn oil, this year the live eggs will be replaced with ceramic eggs. Both methods are approved by Humane Society of the United States, US Fish & Wildlife, and the MN Department of Natural Resources.

The management plan for Rochester recommends humane treatment methods that reduce the growth of the population. The results will be gradual over several years. The overall objectives of the management plan are to reduce conflicts and maintain a wildlife population that can be sustained in the natural habitat provided by the park system.

Volunteers are still being sought for the March-May timeframe. Those interested in volunteering can learn more information here.