
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, September 18, 1994                   TAG: 9411020009
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: D6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

WHAT'S GOOD FOR GOOSE IS BAD FOR CITIES

Some Northern Virginians are becoming increasingly annoyed by flocks of Canada geese, which are being blamed for eating flowers and despoiling greenery.

At the National Memorial Cemetery in Falls Church, visitors have difficulty getting to the graves because of the droppings, and geese eat decorations of flowers and other greenery.

The cemetery twice has put nets over the cemetery's pond. Each time, someone cut down the nets.

Hundreds of geese at the cemetery once were migratory birds who have found the perfect home and don't feel a need to leave, said Matthew Miller of the state Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

As a migratory bird, the Canada goose is protected by the Fish and Wildlife Service, which can issue permits to kill the geese out of season, but rarely does so.

Not everybody finds the geese offensive.

``Their droppings do cause a problem, particularly without any rain to wash them away,'' said Betty Olson, cemetery family services counselor. ``But people who come here love to see them. They do add a lot of aesthetics.''

by CNB