Officials in Abington Township, a well-to-do area of Pennsylvania, are cracking down on a large resident flock of Canada geese after complaints of aggressive behaviour and mess. Locals have reported being chased and harassed by the birds, alongside persistent droppings fouling parks, pavements and public spaces, prompting the township to explore deterrent measures rather than let the problem continue unchecked.

Among the proposed solutions are laser devices designed to startle and disperse the geese from public areas, as well as a controlled cull that would see some birds killed and their meat donated rather than wasted. The plan reflects a wider difficulty many suburban US communities face in managing burgeoning resident goose populations, which can become emboldened and territorial in areas without natural predators, leading to conflict with residents who use shared parks and green spaces.