The Dunedin City Council has settled on shooting a gaggle of troublesome geese responsible for mucking up a Port Chalmers sports field for about two months.
City council parks operations manager Hamish Black yesterday confirmed the geese would be killed over the next two weeks.
The geese would be shot using .22 rifles. The exact timeframe was subject to the gaggle's movements and the weather.
Contractors planned to shoot them while they were on Watson Park, Mr Black said.
There would be multiple shooters, and spotters would be employed to prevent anyone going on to the field while the shooting was under way.
It was possible it could take more than one attempt to shoot the birds.
The birds would be disposed of rather than eaten.
Earlier this week, Mr Black said the council was leaning towards shooting the birds after relocation efforts failed when the geese did not feed on grain spiked with sedatives.
The gaggle's habit of grazing across Watson Park, leaving large quantities of droppings, has prompted health concerns.
