Ed Zylstra, the inventor of the Goose Goo Gone machine, calls it (quote) "basically a carpet sweeper for grass."

Seattle is the first U-S municipality to try the device, which is a boxy little trailer with rotating bristles. The company is providing a free test run for the city Parks Department, which has an agreement with the Progressive Animal Welfare Society to look into non-lethal means of controlling the problem.

The state Department of Fish and Wildlife estimates Washington has about 70-thousand resident Canada geese -- each producing as much as five pounds of waste per day.

In addition to goose droppings, a test run at Gas Works Park showed the machine also picks up other debris in the grass, ranging from cigarette butts to spent fireworks.

If the machine passes muster, it's available for 13-thousand dollars -- with discounts for multiple purchases.

(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)