Goose Overload! Helsinki’s Beach Awash in Droppings
Hietsu Beach in Helsinki has become a daunting challenge for visitors as it faces an overwhelming accumulation of goose droppings. Sunbathers must navigate a troublesome terrain of waste while city officials undertake efforts to restore cleanliness to the popular location.
In recent years, this coastal area has transformed into a haven for barnacle geese. Thousands of these birds now frequent the beach during the hot summer months, seeking relief from the city’s heat, according to reports.
Jukka Lundgren, who oversees public beaches in Helsinki, remarked on the staggering volume of waste produced, with some locations receiving upwards of 40 pounds of droppings each day. For nearly two decades, Lundgren’s team has been striving to manage the avian influx and mitigate the significant mess left behind.
To address the issue, beach staff devised a wheeled cage that resembled a traditional lawn mower. This tool was intended to scoop up droppings from the sand, but it has since been shelved; maintenance workers found it excessively heavy to maneuver on wet sand, necessitating a return to using slotted shovels for cleanup.
"It’s tolerable work," commented crew leader Minni Aakko, "but it’s not my favorite job."
Experts indicated that around 5,300 geese were counted in the region last July. Attempts to tackle the situation included mixing waste into the sand, using the calls of sea eagles to deter geese, and employing trained dogs for patrols, though the latter option was ultimately deemed too costly.
This dilemma has escalated into a significant inconvenience for families and sunbathers, forcing them to be vigilant about where they step on the beach and surrounding grasslands in a time known for its brief but increasingly hot summers.
Pauli Puriava expressed his frustrations while biking to Hietsu Beach with his family, stating, "You really have to watch your every move. It feels impossible to find a spot in Helsinki free of goose droppings."
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