University students in Waterloo, Ont. have a long and complicated history with some of Canada’s most iconic birds. It’s not unusual to spot a Canada goose strolling through campus. In an attempt to appease the ornery interlopers and, according to local legend, even pass exams, some students and staff at the University of Waterloo ensure to always ‘Thank Mr. Goose.’ Recently, a goose was seen waddling outside of a Starbucks inside a Wilfrid Laurier University building while people nearby tried to stay out of its way. Last year, a group of students said they had to change their daily routines and even leave their homes through back doors to avoid particularly aggressive geese that had taken over a neighbourhood in Waterloo. But now, that may be a thing of the past thanks to a new interactive map that uses artificial intelligence to help people get around without disturbing nesting Canada geese. How does ‘Waddleloo’ work? The map, called Waddleloo, launched at the end of March and shows users where Canada geese have been spotted on campus and where nesting hotspots may be. The website can generate a route for people who want to try to avoid the geese entirely. “The goose problem at [the University of] Waterloo is funny right up until you are the one getting chased on your way to class,” Anirudh Dabas, the first-year student who developed Waddleloo, said. “It genuinely changes how students move around during nesting season,” he explained. Nesting season typically lasts from March until May, and the birds may be particularly foul during that time. Dealing with the birds has historically been tricky since they are protected under the Migratory Birds Convention Act and it is illegal to interfere with them during nesting season. Canadians can apply for permits to use mitigation techniques if the geese are being a nuisance or pose a danger to livestock. Many people who regularly stroll through the campuses in Waterloo wouldn’t hesitate to call their avian adversaries “a nuisance.” One University of Waterloo student told CTV News he was chased by a goose while he was walking across campus on Monday. “I’ve lived in Winnipeg, I’ve lived in Richmond Hill, Newmarket, Toronto – I have never seen this many geese in one area,” he said. Anyone who spots a goose, or a gaggle of them, can upload photos to Waddleloo and the A.I. will generate sightings on the map, including a colour-coordinated risk level. Dabas said there are already hundreds of users who check the map daily. As of April 6, the map included University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University campuses, but Dabas said he hopes to expand to other university campuses across the province, and maybe even the country.
