Date: Fri 30-Oct-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

Dickinson-park-pool-geese

Full Text:

Keeping The Geese At Bay

(with photo)

BY STEVE BIGHAM

The notorious Canada geese made a mess down at Dickinson Park this past

summer. Their droppings contaminated both the park's beach and pool, forcing

the closure of the facility twice.

Parks & Recreation Maintenance Director Ron Moffat has had it. Last week, he

and his crew installed clothesline wiring across the pool, adorning the wire

with surveyors tape. The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)

suggested the wire/flag method. Geese supposedly do not like something hanging

above their head while grazing.

"The DEP sent me a few suggestions, but there's no sure fire way to get rid of

them," he said. "We thought about using balloons, but then we realized we'd

have to have helium around all the time."

The Parks & Recreation maintenance department also considered purchasing a

trained dog to keep the geese at bay.

According to Mr Moffat, several geese attempted to land on the pool the day

the wire was put up. One look at the wire scared them off, however.

"I haven't seen many since we put it up. They've all left town. Maybe we

scared them out of Newtown," he said.

If the wire/flag method proves successful, the Parks & Recreation Department

plans to raise the wiring a bit next summer and will use flags of the sort

seen at used car lots.