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Geese Lose Bird Battle In Meadow Vista

Meadow Vista (CBS13) -- Geese are ruffling up some feathers in Meadow Vista where many of the birds could soon be removed from a park.

Some people like Sheila Steinberg flock to a Meadow Vista park just to see the geese.

"They just put a smile on your face. They make a happy ending to your day," said long-time Meadow Vista resident Sheila Steinberg.

Then there's Heather Ireland who likes to feed her feathered friends.

"The geese belong in this park. They were put here by the founder of this park," said Ireland.

A few domestic geese were donated about 30 years ago, and now about 35 of their offspring call this popular park home. Where's the problem? Just look down.

"We always wipe off feet off before we get in the car," said a mother out with her children.

"You get goose poop on your tires," said a child.

The Auburn Recreation District (ARD) wants to get rid of a few of the birds to keep the park cleaner, but Ireland says they need to put the animals first. She showed the ARD dangers posed upon the geese after their first fishing derby. She says that's when some board members told her perhaps the geese were the problem.

"The geese have been here 30 years. Why did it take complaints of the fishing derby for them to decide to act on them?" said Ireland.

After months of meetings, a committee is considering giving about 25 birds to willing caretakers, allowing only five to 10 to stay put.

"This is a pond that should retain four or five geese, but we're going to retain more than that number. We don't want to be draconian about it," said ARD spokesman Jim Ferris.

"I think they should keep them because it's part of nature and the geese like the pond," said a child.

The ARD wants to remove the geese humanely. There are a few families already offering to adopt them. A committee of board members and residents will decide on how many to remove within the next four to five months before mating season begins.

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