Five dogs to patrol for geese throughout the summer

Vaasa’s official goose dog, Lissu, has been keeping the geese at bay since 2022, but this year she will be joined by new team members. Lissu and four other German Shepherds – Zeb, Rex, Vito, and Vida – along with their owners, make up the city’s Goose Patrol. The owners Jarmo Latvala, Carina Timberg, Patrik Timberg, Terhi Vuorenmaa, and Emma Saloniemi, serve as the dogs’ handlers. 

In the first two years, goose control efforts were primarily focused on Onkilahti Park and Hietasaari beach. Last summer, in addition to these areas, goose control was extended to the beaches at Ahvensaari, Kustaanlinna, and Isolahti. This year, the goose dogs will also be patrolling the Vikinga beach. 

The Goose Patrol helps keep the city’s parks and beaches clean and pleasant 

The patrol, established on a trial basis by the City of Vaasa’s Public Utility Services, consists of a group of volunteer dog enthusiasts. The handlers are experienced dog owners from a local dog sports club, and they receive training for the task. The leader of the group and the representative of Public Utility Services is Service Manager Jarmo Latvala. 

The dogs work according to a set rota, and the patrol focus areas are adjusted based on the presence of goose flocks. 

– Each dog works individually with its owner, following a specific route depending on the location. Members of the Goose Patrol can also share sightings of goose flocks with each other and suggest areas to focus on during the next patrol, says Latvala. 

The dogs find the work rewarding, and it also provides them with plenty of exercise. 

Barnacle geese hamper recreational use 

The most common species found in the parks and on the beaches is the protected barnacle goose. Goose droppings foul the green spaces and beaches, making them less suitable for recreational use. At the beaches, goose droppings can compromise the quality of the water and prevent swimming. Geese use parks and beaches as feeding and resting areas, and they are most commonly seen in spring and again as summer turns to autumn. 

Using dogs to deter geese is permitted, as long as it is done in a calm and controlled manner. The dogs are not allowed to bark at the geese or chase them, but they may approach the flock slowly until the geese take flight. According to the ELY Centre, no special permit is required, as the patrolled areas are not considered important for the geese’s breeding. 

Let the goose dogs work undisturbed 

The Goose Patrol should be allowed to work undisturbed. If you encounter the patrol dogs while walking your own dog, please give way to the goose dog. The owners of the Goose Patrol dogs are easily identified by their orange vests. Chasing geese away with your own dogs is not allowed. 

The Goose Patrol will continue its work until the barnacle geese leave Vaasa for their autumn migration.