The Canada goose population has exploded in Foster City, creating public health and quality of life issues for residents.
Foster City's goose population, an estimated 323 birds, is higher than it has ever been. Each goose is creating 1-2 pounds of excrement a day, for a total of between 300 and 600 in the city.
Foster City Mayor Sanjay Gehani told KCBS Radio there is so much goose poop in some public parks that some ends up on soccer and baseball players' clothes and logs.
"Baseballs being hit, rolling in goose poop and then going into a child's glove, who's turning around, throwing the ball to his teammates," he explained.
Gehani said that many young children take their first steps in the park, and end up falling in poop.
The number of geese has almost doubled since last June, according to Gehani.
"The real concern is the water right near the beaches where a lot of the geese spend their time," Gehani said.
If the population gets too big, E. Coli in the water can lead to bird flu. So, Foster City is doubling down on keeping the population low, strategizing and developing tactics to do so.
Gehani said the city is considering dog hazing, strobe lights, fence barriers and preventing goose eggs from hatching.
Foster City officials don't want to kill the geese, but they will apply for a federal depredation permit as a last resort.
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