LaSalle is taking steps to control the geese population in the town.
Going forward, all new stormwater retention ponds will be naturalized to create an environment geese don't like.
The town's Director of Public Works Peter Marra says freshly cut grass acts as a food source for the birds while longer grass makes them think a predator may be waiting to strike.
Marra says it makes taking off and landing tough as well.
"I'm certainly not a biologist, but all the literature that I have is when you have a little bit more of a naturalized environment, tall, woody vegetation around the ponds prevents them from taking off and landing and, also, it does provide locations for their natural predators."
He says naturalizing may result in a cost savings for the town.
"Allowing them to naturalize, it will naturally grow. So there won't be an effort to have to be put into cut the grass now. So from a cost perspective, there's not much cost to naturalizing the ponds to the town."
Stormwater retention pond at Sandwich West Park (Photo courtesy of Google Maps)
He says the new rules go into effect immediately.
"When we do future retention ponds, part of the landscaping design will be to accommodate this natural vegetation and naturalization. So that will be part of the landscape design as part of all future stormwater management ponds. So certainly that will happen with the next pond that's built."
Marra adds, grass cutting will stop at the Sandwich West Park pond as well to return it to its natural state.
The town is also investigating the use of a spray repellent at the Vollmer Centre pond as that water is used by a number of local user groups.