They just need some commotion down there to scare the geese away to another location.I could probably drum somthing up.

Ren, Janesville needs a Doo Dah Parade. You are appointed as chairman of the committee. Good luck.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCtSf9P6a...

Theater

I'll try.
But it isn't easy when such debate turns into a goose out smarting humans to the point that we are hurting ourselves more than the goose.And it is as though people who aren't Vets have really no say in the matter or at least aren't taken seriously.Weather I am a Vet or not becomes obscure due to the fact that the entire reason why one would be a Vet is to have attempted at the best of their ability to protect these rights for the next generation,that it really becomes questionable at the mentality involving how to deal with the problem.
My comment may have been a bit of a "slap in the face" so-to-speak,and I appologise for the reference to violence in dealing with the problem,but maybe a little commotion would work to scare the geese away.How about a little theator group put on a show(like the reinactment of the Civil War)that might make some commotion causing the geese to think twice about landing at Traxler.This way we can "kill two birds with one stone".Commotion to scare the geese away,as well as a learning expierence for the kids and the family.I have seen such other theatrics in Janesville,how about in this situation?
I can see it now.The discovery channel doing a segment on what animal will take over the earth when humans are all gone.By the time they get done with the show,all that is left is goose poop Island,Janesvill,WI.Will this finally get Janesville the recognition they have strived for,for so long?I hope not.

Renegade, don't be a fool.

On that note.Maybe we could have a who did the more as a Vet slapping contest.Everyone can get involved,even non-Vets.That would certainly keep the geese away,or laughing utill they all fall down dead.
I really begin to wonder if Humans are truly at the top of the food chain,as we have heard.

What does the goose poop problem have to do with Vets?Weather you use it for a Vets park or for any other park,there is still going to be a goose poop problem,right?
So you use it mainly for vets,the goose poop problem is still there.If you use it for other uses,minus the Vets,you still are facing a goose poop problem.So find a way to keep the park clean,and everyone can enjoy the park.

2Ureader, your admonition that I shouldn't reply is a slap in the face to all veterans, living and dead, who died fighting for the right of free speech.

Furthermore, I don't need you to tell me what we war veterans fought for. Some of the people attempting to alter the park aren't anywhere near my war record.

Get the point: Those people do not represent all veterans.

gazettefan....your quote: You are only genuflecting to those few who CLAIM to represent all veterans. First off I do not bow to anyone and do not hold esteem to any human, that is reserved for Christ.

I don't understand your CLAIM bit, but do know that it is our Veterans that keep this country Free for our CIVILIAN SOCIETY. You call dominating a Park by Veterans and civilians like they where separate people? Some Veterans are also civilians, and how nice of you to say they are welcome in the park.

I'm pretty sure who ever placed the Eternal Flame monument wanted this to be a spot for remembering Veterans. This is not a cemetery, it's a place to reflect on those that served, you can touch the monuments you can sit there have a picnic if you wish. The project submitted was to beautify the park and have access with a wheelchair and a few monuments to those now serving.

I only replied because your answer did not make common sense. Don't bother replying a comment as this is not debatable for me.

2UReader, reread my comment. Nothing I said is disrespectful toward veterans. You are only genuflecting to those few who claim to represent all veterans.

Furthermore, we live in a civilian society: Most of the people who use the park for recreation are civilians and are not veterans. The park exists largely for civilian or non-veteran use, of course military personal and veterans are equally welcome.

The thinking that veterans issues -as proclaimed by a few- should dominate park usage is the same thinking that compels the few to want to take Henry Traxler's name off the park.

Again, nothing I'm saying here is disrespectful toward veterans. Stop genuflecting to the few who wallow in the genuflection of others.

gazettefan....Well I hope that I am one of the few that appreciates what a Veteran has done for me and this country, those that don't care have a right to their opinion and choice, that's what America is all about. But to dismiss the sacrifice is un-American. Did it ever occur to anyone that the old Veterans can't come to the ceremonies? Especially since there is no wheelchair access? We see an increase of new and younger Veterans coming. At least the Patriotic Society and VVA VFW cares about Veterans and has events, many other cities don't, go to Washington and see if no one cares.

2Ureader, consider how many veterans live in the area. Then take note of how many vets and other people show up at those events. It's obvious that the great majority of vets and civilians in the area don't care much for those events. And that's not saying anything bad about them. It's saying that only a few vets and civilians are claiming that their way is the only way to honor vets, living and dead.

i laugh at this..... when people don't see nature they get angry, then when nature is around and doing the natural thing, people want them gone.... hey people, CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS. the cannon thing sound like some one will complain ( yes they will, and you all know it) the netting, well that sounds like a pretty good answer to me... but hey, i never went to colledge (laughing out loud) maybe we should hire a lawyer to figure this out for us (sarcasism),,,,,,, and for the record, i do agree with the netting.nothing wrong with feeding the needy, and solving a "problem"

Interesting article. I wonder Mr. Beck how many times you have gone to a ceremony at the Walk Way for Veterans?

You mentioned the caller said, "many or even most veterans born and raised here do not."
That is ludicrous, I have never heard of a Veteran that did not want to be Honored or respected with some kind of recognition, especially a monument.

The caller pointed out 2 problems with the location, it floods too often and is plagued with goose poop, which the caller claimed, isn’t even cleaned up around the current monuments before veterans services.

I ask, Why then was the Patriotic Society allowed to build their Walkway there if flooding was an often problem? And sure there are Goose poops, most waterway parks have Geese!

Obviously this caller is a disgruntled Veteran, doesn't he realize that much efforts has gone into this project FOR Honoring ALL Veterans, just like himself?

Too bad he doesn't have any spare time to clean poop or volunteer, just like I did, cleaning the walk way, monuments and the weeds. I just can't control the Geese during the night or early morning.

That program went into effect about ten years ago in Fond du Lac. There were, at the time over 2,000 year round Giant Canada geese living in the parks and they do not migrate.
Yes, a few "goose-huggers" complained, but the netting capture is done quietly each year and since then there is only a small population of geese and the netting is a very minor activity.
It works, and it provides food to needy folks.
No-brainer.

What EMMO said is the way to do it.............its no different than humane farming practices but some goofball won't like it but yet think it just fine that some wild predator tears their prey apart while still alive because "weeell, thats nature"......DUH

Traxler park is getting out of control. My 6 year old grandson calls it goose poop park, I guess the nickname fits. I agree 100 percent with EMMO46!

When you build bike or walking paths next to ponds and rivers, especially when you knew water fowl habitated the area, is it any wonder they poop on the sidewalk and adjoining green space? I guess they didn't get the memo. We created the ideal pond-like situation for them to live and breed and now are mystified as to how to get rid of them. Good luck with mother nature!

Unfortunately, when the natural predators are not there, such as fox, racoons, etc, the goose populations will explode. There has to be a form of predation that eliminates the animal and brings the population back down. Catch and relocate ideas only move the problem to a different area and the geese, of course, will come back. Goose droppings are filthy and carry a lot of stuff very bad for humans. Down the road this will be a detriment to society and raise health care costs. Maybe the best idea would be to close down the park to human access and let it go back to a goose world. That would reduce the health hazard and relieve the taxpayers of one tax burden, maintaining a park for the geese. Otherwise, get out the shotguns, issue permits, and let the hunters and DNR reap the benefits.

EMMO46: I can see it now, the tree huggers are crying "to arms, to arms" at the mention of your comment. Actually, I personally think it's a great one!

The air cannons do work ! I have witnessed it as well,it is also used in some produce farms in Ohio I have visited to keep crows out of the sweet corn.
How about letting people run their dogs,I am sure they would clean up the dog steamers,just an idea.

I wondered why it was called Goose Island! Actually, when I was there, I never gave it any thought.

Every city wants to "invent" some way to control the geese. They refuse to learn from other cities that have succeeded.
The US Fish & Wildlife has tested and approved of a method...and it has been used very successfully for a number of years by other cities, in Fond du lac, for example.
They shoot cannon nets over the goose flock in early summer when they are molting and do not fly. The geese are then quietly loaded into trucks and taken away.
Where, you ask?
The young geese are taken to an indian reservation where they are fattened up and eaten.
The adults are taken to a processing facility in Minnesota where they are "pantried". (That's a PC word for killed, butchered, and sent to food banks to feed poor people).
Simple solution...but Janesville thinks it has to "invent" a solution instead of using a proven one.
Until then...watch where you step.

You could place an "air cannon" similar to the ones used to scare off large birds at airports. Harmless and not dangerous.

Would real swans work? Then we could change the name from Goose Island to Swan Lake.

This is pretty much the professional distillation right here:
http://www.ppdl.purdue.edu/ppdl/expert/C...
.
The basic problem is that, like deer, we have a) created parklike areas (habitats) that are attractive to both humans and geese and b) we don't like their natural predators in these areas. If we wish to control their numbers we have to accept some level of management, but shooting is really only one possible element of a program (and not common most places I've known); they're also treaty protected, so special permission needs to be granted.