The geese of Westdene Dam are running rampant in the suburb’s streets in their search for food.
“In winter, the grass at the dam is dry, and the geese don’t have food to eat,” Westdene resident Betsie Odendal explained on 25 July.
Odendal has been trying to feed the geese bread when she can. “But there are far more than a 100 of them, and they want regular feeding,” she said.
“I can’t stock enough bread for them.”
Geese at the dam are so desperate for food that they come flying into neighbouring streets, ‘screaming’ at the sign of approaching cars or people, hoping for a hunk of bread or a stray vegetable.
Odendal says this happens every winter.
Westdene resident Frikkie Botes reported that a few enterprising Westdeners have started a goose feeding programme on 27 July. “We’re asking anyone who cooks regularly, to please save the peels of carrots, green-beans, potatoes, pumpkin, tomatoes, celery and cabbage leftovers in a bag in your fridge,” Botes implored.
“And then, once a week, you can go to the dam and feed the geese, or otherwise let us know and we will come and collect the food from you and feed them.”
*City Parks was asked for comment and had not replied by the time of print.
*Botes and helpers can be reached on the Facebook site Concerned Residents of Westdene (CROW.)
