Geese are bigger problem at Swift Creek Reservoir

Dear Editor,

I'm not a scientist like Dr. [Tom] Pakurar, I don't build houses, and there's no large chunk of land that I need rezoned, but I do drink water from time to time. Having attended several HAL [Hands Across the Lake] meetings, I have grown to feel Dr. Pakurar certainly has the county and public's best interest at heart. The builders, developers and landowners with designs on rezoning are without question thinking more from the wallet than from the heart. The new board of supervisors is trying to walk that thin line of campaign promises versus rising growth.

I have listened to how harmful phosphorus is to the reservoir and that we should go for the .16 [pounds per acre per year limit] while the other side says there are no hard facts so leave it at .22. This battle has raged on for years while there is another and maybe even more dangerous threat that we never hear about. This foe is allowed to increase at will, pollute in volumes, contaminate everything in sight and all with the blessings of our government. I'm talking about the Canadian goose - possibly the largest contributor of pollutants and disease-infested waste that enters the reservoir every day.

Each goose produces 1.5 pounds of feces per day. It was estimated by Game & Inland Fisheries that my neighborhood has 300-500 geese on any given day. These geese produce between 81.9 and 136.5 tons of feces per year, and that's just those in my neighborhood. I don't know how that compares to the phosphorus load, but I do know it's a load. On the lighter side, I've never heard anyone complain about stepping in a pile of phosphorus, but I do know what it's like to clean goose feces from my shoes.

We have been experiencing some of our residents complaining of getting sick when attending community functions at our gazebo. The goose droppings in this area are unbelievable.

Having researched the Internet, I discovered that Georgia had experienced a similar situation on a reservoir there. They furnished me with some startling information as to the contents of goose feces. They advised that feces is a major contributor to fecal coliform levels in a reservoir. Salmonella, Escherichia Coli, Campylobacter, Listria and Chlamydia are all found in this bird's waste that the government feels we should protect. I contacted the Virginia Health Department, and a Dr. [Bill] Nelson sent out two gentlemen to investigate. They spent approximately 20 minutes and took three or four pictures all as they were going back to their car. I received the standard response, "We'll get back to you, but don't expect too much." Well, that was July 7. I'm still cleaning my shoes, and needless to say I have no answer. The two did remind me that geese are a protected species, but when I replied where on that list do the citizens fall, or exactly how much more important are geese than humans, all I got was a chuckle.

So as I sat on July 30, listening to HAL on one side and the builders and landowners on the other, ranting and raving about phosphorus and whether it's in the reservoir or not, the old goose just keeps adding his pound and a half everyday. I guess the next great revelation will be the developer that comes to the podium with a plan for a goose-free neighborhood.

Jerry Stroud

Lakepointe

Dr. Bill Nelson of the Chesterfield Health Department responds: My apologies for the delay in getting back to Mr. Stroud after the initial visit by the health department staff. Whether large populations of Canada geese pose a threat to human health is not a new question. In fact, there is rather extensive medical literature evaluating the possibility that disease might be transmitted from a Canada goose to a human. As Mr. Stroud mentions, geese produce a large amount of feces, and organisms that have the potential to make people sick have been found in their feces.

Fortunately, I am not aware of any instances of a Canada goose actually transmitting illness to a human, and we have not received reports of any unusual patterns of disease in the area surrounding the reservoir. Still, the potential for disease transmission between wild animals and humans always exists, and it is generally a good idea to avoid contact with wild animals and their feces. As always, good hand and food hygiene are the best tactics for prevention.

The Canada goose is a federally protected animal, and the health department does not play a role in controlling their populations in residential areas. Nevertheless, we will continue to work with the neighborhood associations and assist them in whatever way we can. There are numerous strategies that residents can use to control their goose populations. You can find out more about them by calling your local U. S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services office at 739-7739. As always, if you have more health questions, please call us at the health department at 751-4385.