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Border Collies Could Be The Answer To Geese Problem In Denver's Parks

DENVER (CBS4) - Denver parks are dealing with a foul problem -- park-goers say geese are taking over, and some experts agree the goose population is larger than it's ever been.

Geese at city parks are nothing new with tens of thousands of geese migrating through the Front Range every year. But the problem is more and more just aren't leaving, and with more numbers come more problems.

Border Collie
(credit: CBS)

"Year-round, all the time, they're always coming and going, landing," a woman in Washington Park said on Tuesday.

"It certainly seems the geese population has dramatically increased over the last few years," another park patron said.

Enter Tim Eubanks, who runs Up and Away Goose Control. He says business this year is on the rise.

"We are really starting to see a problem with the resident geese," Eubanks said.

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(credit: CBS)

Colorado Parks and Wildlife says it's nearly impossible to keep track of the ever-changing goose population, but they have noticed the number of resident geese is growing likely due to the mild climate.

"The resident geese; you'll notice they're much larger," Eubanks said.

Goosinator
The Goosinator (credit: CBS)

Right now Denver Parks and Recreation doesn't allow the use of Eubanks' team of border collies, but relies on robot "goosinators," which keep the geese moving.

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(credit: CBS)

"The border collie is one of the few dogs that will actually drop their shoulders like an arctic fox, their number one predator up in Canada," Eubanks said.

But Eubanks believes the rules should change -- a move the city of Cheyenne has recently made and has even bought one of Eubanks' dogs.

The dogs are trained to only chase, and never bite.

"They will not touch them under any circumstance."

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(credit: CBS)

Either way the growing number of geese has city officials' attention, and both sides agree it's one that needs addressing.

"The more we can reduce human-goose conflict, the better for the goose, the better for humans."

There are only a few weeks left to possibly work on moving geese. Come April 1 state laws do not allow hazing of geese until August, as geese will be nesting. Then the state uses other processes such as sterilizing eggs.

LINK: Up and Away Goose Control

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