Good Question!
Q: (From Deirdre Meehan, COEHS Dean's Office): How come there aren't as many goslings this year as there were in previous years? Is UNF doing something to control the campus geese population?
A: (From Dr. Kelly Smith, Biology): During the early spring you typically see numerous small goslings, but they tend to experience mortality due to feral cats, raccoons, snapping turtles and alligators (yes we have a resident gator in Oneida Lake). Also there is a lot of construction going on in some areas that used to be popular for the geese (particularly around Building 39). It is possible they have moved elsewhere – all the dust and noise is annoying to humans and probably more so to geese. I do not know of a concerted effort to control geese populations. I am not aware of any significant diseases at this point that would increase mortality either.