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"     A flock of Canada geese hangs out around the lake at our local park. Is it safe for my kids to play near the birds? B.B., St. Paul, Minnesota Over the past several decades, Canada geese populations have been increasing in North America--as have their messy activities at many of our nation&amp;#039;s waterside parks and playgrounds. Herbivores with very few predators, the birds like to take up residence near freshwater sources with fluffy, manicured grass, like community green spaces.  As for your kids, the geese wouldn&amp;#039;t be a problem if it weren&amp;#039;t for their slippery manure, which looks more like the feces of a small dog than typical bird droppings. In addition to being plain old disgusting, the waste has been known to carry such disease-causing organisms as E. coli and salmonella. Since youngsters tend to climb, run, and explore when they&amp;#039;re playing outside, my concern would be that your children might unknowingly come into contact with the birds&amp;#039; excrement, touch their mouths or rub their eyes, and possibly develop an infection.  Given the fact that the point of spending the day outdoors is to have fun, I&amp;#039;d seek out another park for my family\u2014one where untidy honkers aren&amp;#039;t regular visitors. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.countryliving.com/life/kids-pets/a3367/goose-poop-0410/>