Bartlett is hoping to drive away its most pesky residents: geese.

Village officials are calling for the Bartlett Park District to find a permanent solution for an increasing goose population. But park officials aren’t convinced.

“Evidently, they see something we don’t,” said Rita Fletcher, Park District director. “I don’t think Bartlett has a unique goose problem.”

Village President Catherine Melchert, who said she has counted 150 geese in one field, approached the Park District about excessive goose excrement near ponds and fields.

“I think we have to find some solution to lessen (the geese) in the community, or it could become a serious problem,” she said.

Melchert suggested methods such as oiling eggs to prevent geese from nesting in the area.

Fletcher was uncomfortable with this idea, and recommended the village purchase goose excrement sweeper equipment for nearly $30,000. This option did not sit well with village officials, who requested the Park District look for another solution.

Fletcher said she was stunned the village would push the issue back on the Park District, considering the village had approached the district. Park staff who have surveyed areas where geese dwell throughout Bartlett, found there are very few nests, said Fletcher.

Bartlett’s assistant village administrator Paula Schumacher admits the village has not conducted official research on the goose population, but believes it has increased. Since the village does not maintain properties with alleged goose problems, Schumacher believes it is the responsibility of the Park District to find a solution.

“All the problem areas are park property, and they maintain the property,” she said.

Schumacher has researched various methods for managing geese populations, including hiring an outside goose management company. Geneva and Wheaton park districts have hired Wild Goose Chase, a La Grange-based company that manages Canada geese populations.

Larry Gabriel, superintendent of parks at the Geneva Park District, said they have had problems with geese damaging flowers at two of their parks.

“We have always known geese have been a problem, so we decided to take matters into our own hands,” he said.

The Park District heard about great results from the Fox Valley Park District, which has used Wild Goose Chase, but did not ask for any financial support from the city of Geneva.

“It was our own decision, our own undertaking, so we made it our own dedicated project,” Gabriel said.

Geneva’s park district pays $900 for one of its parks every month during the fall and spring. Wild Goose Chase uses a combination of techniques including border collie patrols and oiling eggs.

“The dogs are herding dogs and encourage geese to move onto a new area,” said Susan Hagberg, president of Wild Goose Chase.

The company also sprays areas with an anti-feedant and oils eggs during nesting season in the spring, which provides long-term population control. They also plant tall landscape features, and encourage park districts to educate residents not to feed the geese.

“Feeding attracts wild life, and it is very bad for them,” Hagberg said.
Geese have a difficult time digesting bread, and it causes them to defecate more often, she said.

Currently, the village of Bartlett uses two dogs to chase geese away at the Bartlett Hills Golf Course. Various villages and park districts use Wild Goose Chase services, Hagberg said.

Wild Goose Chase has been operating in the western suburbs for 10 years. Its effectiveness comes from its  attempt to use various techniques, rather than a quick-fix solution, said Hagberg.

“It’s kind of like diet and exercise — you need both to lose weight,” she said.