FOR years, they have left users of Poole Park in a flap.

But some locals say the park’s notorious Canada geese – considered a nuisance for their aggressive nature and messy droppings – should face a cull.

A vote on a cull of the birds, which can number 500 at peak times, was forced through at a meeting of the Friends of Poole Park.

However, carrying out the job may prove a significant hurdle, with the Poole council unlikely to volunteer for the task.

Peter Steer, one of the Friends of Poole Park, said culling geese was against the group’s policy but the level of complaints prompted the motion.

He said: “There has been such an outcry. We are trying to attract children to the park but the geese mess is everywhere.

“We want more people and fewer geese.”

Introduced to Poole in the 1950s, the geese are long-standing visitors to the park.

But aside from their toilet habits – a dropping every six minutes – they can be aggressive to people and other birds and eat more grass in a day than a sheep.

Many believe the more humane methods used in the park for reducing numbers, including a honking Goose Buster and a tethered bird of prey, should be persevered with. A suggested population control method is egg pricking, which involves the puncturing of a small hole in shells to kill embryos.

The birds live and breed in Purbeck and Poole Harbour, but flock to the park in the morning to feast on the grass.

Clive Smith, head of leisure services, said the council had no plan to alter its policy of not culling geese.

He added: “Any such change would be discussed with a wide range of people including residents, councillors, community groups, Friends of Poole Park and the RSPB.”