Battle against geese
getting creative, serious
Towns employing various methods to move
once migratory birds
By carolyn o’connell
Staff Writer

OCEANPORT — There’s not a lot to the borough’s most recent attempt to rid Wharfside Park of the Canada geese that have taken up residence there.

In fact, from a short distance away, it is difficult to see what the borough has done. According to officials, that’s part of what makes it effective.

Five weeks ago, the borough’s Department of Public Works installed a fence along the shoreline, stretching approximately 600 linear feet.

"This method keeps the birds from traveling from the water to land to eat the grass," said Councilman Philip Apruzzi.

For the last four years, the borough has tried various methods to rid the park of geese, without much success in the beginning.

"We originally used black swan silhouettes, which worked for only three to four months," said Apruzzi. "What we didn’t know at the time is that the silhouettes had to be moved in order for the geese to think they were predators."

For the next few years, the geese adopted the park as their own and residents did not feel welcome dodging the geese droppings on the way to the benches or recreational areas of the park, which overlooks the Shrewsbury River.

In addition to fencing, Oceanport has also used FlightControl, a product sprayed on grass. According to the FlightControl fact sheet, the compound absorbs ultraviolet light, sending geese a visual warning that something is wrong with their food. When the geese eat the turf, they experience irritation, causing them to vomit and thereby reinforcing the message that there is something wrong with their food. FlightControl is non-toxic to humans and will remain on the grass through numerous rains, Apruzzi said.

Using the fence and the FlightControl cost the township under $1,000, according to Apruzzi.

Although the borough has found humane ways to deter geese, as of April it has also received a permit to round up the geese and euthanize them if necessary.

According to Apruzzi, the borough obtained the permit to round up the geese if its latest measures do not work.

Apruzzi noted that in order to secure a permit, a municipality has to exhaust at least two other methods first.

Oceanport is not alone in battling the area’s burgeoning Canada geese population.

Almost every community in the state has become involved in the fight as the permanent population of the once mostly migratory birds roughly tripled during the ’90s to 85,000, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which monitors the population of the bird throughout the country.

According to Michael Meddis, assistant Monmouth County public health coordinator, more recent figures set the number of resident Canada geese in the state at roughly 96,000.

In Long Branch, the Board of Education has turned to dog silhouettes which are moved continuously to protect its lush green ball fields.

"The silhouettes have been extremely successful keeping the birds off the field while they are not in use," said Joseph M. Ferraina, superintendent of schools.

On the municipal side, Long Branch has also recently passed an addendum to an ordinance which states that people are not allowed to feed the geese. The city has also taken steps to educate the public about the importance of not supplying the geese with food.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, geese that are fed by people are difficult or impossible to harass away, will accumulate in great number and have a higher incidence of disease transmission, and those geese may suffer deformities and poor health due to nutritional deficiencies.

In Tinton Falls, the Department of Public Works uses Mirk, a border collie, to harass geese away from its grassy and water areas.

According to John Bucciero, director of public works in Tinton Falls, Mirk was obtained about three years ago. The borough paid $3,000 for the dog and necessary training for Mirk’s handler, Mark Schaffery, who is also the foreman of the borough’s building and grounds department. The trainer and dog have a schedule that gets them out to the borough’s fields every day to deter geese from settling there.

"Mirk and Mark make their rounds daily," said Bucciero, noting that they address specific areas in the borough where the geese tend to take up residence, such as ball fields, soccer fields, parks and the lawn of borough hall.

"Now the birds recognize the vehicle," said Bucciero. "The dog doesn’t even have to get out of the truck. The geese get tired of being harassed, and they don’t come back."

The USDA does not require a permit to use a dog but does suggest using dogs such as border collies and Labrador retrievers specifically trained to harass geese or using a company that can provide the service.

Eatontown may give a trial run to border collies to chase away the geese and is also considering importing a pair of mute swans.

"Mute swans not only add beauty but are territorial," said Councilman John J. Collins. "If we get a pair and they have an egg, they will chase out others, including any Canada geese seeking to settle in."

Harassing geese with trained dogs appears to be most effective in areas with no bodies of water. The lack of water removes a refuge were geese can find safety.

Because these measures were installed just a short time ago, Oceanport officials are not yet certain if the efforts will hold up. If they do not, officials are prepared to face the possibility of taking more direct action.

"We do have the permit (to capture and kill the geese) in case we need it," said Apruzzi. "Right now we are keeping it in our back pocket, and it is not our intent to use it at this time."