Grumpy geese seek a change of scenery

They're hungry, fiercely territorial, dangerous to small children ... and they need a nice caring home.

The homeless menaces are a gaggle of geese which officials suspect have been dumped in the Auckland Botanical Gardens.

The goose population in the gardens, in Manurewa, has increased this year, and the Auckland Regional Council is concerned that someone may be hurt.

One of the geese recently nipped a toddler on the arm, leaving him sore and upset.

Council spokeswoman Micheline Newton said the park had about 30 geese.

"We suspect they are being abandoned here by someone who knows we have other birds at the gardens.

"We remain concerned that some a playful child might get hurt ... We are also concerned about the health and well-being of the birds.

Being a botanic garden, we don't have the expertise to look after birdlife and we can't have the gardens being treated as a bird sanctuary."

The birds at the botanic gardens were also malnourished, because of the poor water quality in the garden lakes and the lack of proper feed.

The council was working on improving the water, but it also wanted people to give some of the geese new homes.

Potential owners could contact the ARC.