may be relevant. If a population has become problematic then a wildlife control solution could be developed and exercised. However the CWS typically requests what passive control measures have been undertaken before consideration of permitting formal wildlife control action.

Wildlife control practices often follow a hierarchy of control methodology starting with:

• 1. Habitat control; essential modifying or removing habitat elements (food, water, shelter, territory) which attracts the target species to the area of concern.
• 2. Exclusion; the placement of physical barriers to prevent the target species from occurring in a location.
• 3. Behaviour modification; using devices and techniques which are biologically programmed into the target species to "scare" them for a location.
• 4. Physical removal; which can be accomplished by both live trapping and lethal control techniques.

This hierarchy of wildlife control starts with the most difficult to achieve but is passive and often the most effective permanent solutions to the easiest which tend to be active measures with a much shorter duration of solutions.

The CWS does have jurisdiction for the control and disposition of migratory bird populations including Canada Goose through the Migratory Bird Act and Convention. The CWS also has experience in managing and permitting the management of Canada Goose populations and tend to support long term control methodology like habitat modification or exclusion but realize in urban environs physical removal may be warranted.

Many Municipalities have undertaken some form of wildlife control and often opt for the physical removal of geese from water front or park space, which is often seen as a last resort and temporary or seasonal fix to a problem.

Public Consultation

The public has not been specifically consulted on the problem of Canada Geese although in February, 2015 Councillor Sleiman held a public meeting specifically on the issue as it related to riverfront parks in his Ward. Numerous complaints have been logged with 311, (between 2013 to present, 18 geese related complaints logged) the parks website and from Councillors relaying complaints received. Several members of the public identified this as a priority at the Parks Master Plan open house sessions. Similarly from interaction with the public at the Ward meetings, Parks staff entertained complaints about goose "droppings" from nearly every Ward with the vast majority relating to the issue along the waterfront.