Wild geese plague Ostholstein's beaches - is the big cleaning coming?

Wild geese plague Ostholstein's beaches - is the big cleaning coming?

In the tranquil community of Bosau on the Great Plön Lake, defecation by wild geese has reached a level that is causing excitement among both locals and holidaymakers. You can often see the popular gray geese and Canada geese flocking to the beach. Several visitors to the Augstfelde campsite are already reporting that they have packed their bags due to the unacceptable conditions caused by the accumulation of feces. The finger-long feces are piling up on an area the size of a football field, which makes the situation more than critical. Mayor Jens Arendt from the CDU speaks of an estimate between 300 and 500 wild geese that have chosen the beach as their preferred place. [NDR].

In search of solutions, the municipality has initiated measures to scare away the geese. Recently, the use of a laser gun was approved to effectively drive the animals away from their berths. Holger Schwien, who works with a laser pointer, is convinced that his approach promises more success than previous methods. In Barmstedt, where up to 1,000 Canada geese have been recorded, numerous techniques have already been tried out, including hunting, noise and even putting up fences. Unfortunately, these measures often only provide short-term success, as the controversy surrounding the use of a remote-controlled racing boat to drive away geese shows.

A complex problem

The situation in Bosau is not an isolated case. NABU Schleswig-Holstein informs that the wild goose population in Europe is continuously growing and conflicts between nature conservation and agriculture continue to arise. These problems are often serious, especially for farmers who fear enormous economic losses due to goose predation. Damage to freshly sown winter grain repeatedly causes dissatisfaction among farmers, who criticize that the geese population is not adequately monitored. Around 100 agricultural businesses in Schleswig-Holstein have already submitted applications due to the damage caused by goose predation. NABU Schleswig-Holstein, on the other hand, advocates a more prudent approach to the animals and warns of the consequences of aggressive deterrent measures.

One problem that runs like a common thread through recent developments is the increase in the population of barnacle geese and Canada geese. While a steady increase in barnacle geese has been observed since the 1950s, the autumn population in the North Baltic Sea area is estimated at an incredible 1.3 million. This inevitably leads to conflicts, not only in the agricultural sector, but also in the everyday lives of people who often have to contend with the unsightly legacies of the feathered pests. According to a recent report, Egyptian and Canada geese are known to be invasive species, further reinforcing their perception as “problem birds.” PAZ reports drastic measures in other regions where hunters regulate the population with targeted shootings.

A difficult balance

The entire goose conflict is a big balancing act between nature conservation, which wants to protect the populations, and the interests of agriculture, which often feels threatened by the goose supply. While the EU Commission has set a limit of barnacle geese at 380,000, farmers are faced with the challenge of protecting their crops from the voracious geese. At a time when environmental protection and nature conservation are becoming increasingly important to the public, it is important to find a solution that takes into account both the protection of species and the economic interests of farmers.

The topic remains exciting and shows once again that people need a good hand when it comes to overcoming the natural challenges that surround them.