Trained border collies and radio-controlled model speedboats are all
methods that have been used with some success to control the Canada goose
population in Union County parks. - Newspaper
Photo 
BPN Editor's Note: See the last few paragraphs for the treatment at Briant Park.
But now officials feel the time has come to attack the birds where they live.
This week county park workers and representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services are searching out the nesting areas to destroy the eggs by coating them with off to cut off oxygen to the embryo.
In addition, the county has also obtained a federal permit to euthanize up to 2,700 of the non-migratory birds over the summer to control the goose population and eliminate what authorities said has become a serious health hazard throughout the park system.
"The droppings and other damage caused by the nonmigratory geese was just getting worse and we had to do something so that residents would be able to enjoy the parks now that spring has arrived," said Parks and Recreation Director Charles Sigmund. Counties, towns, schools and corporations with huge campuses have been battling the geese over the years with everything from treating lawns with chemicals, unleashing trained dogs, disturbing nests and, in extreme cases, euthanasia.
The 96,800 geese who live year-round in New Jersey have long worn out their welcome. Union County wildlife experts said an adult goose can defecate as much as 27 times day, producing a pound of waste per goose daily.
The waste is often washed into nearby waterways and streams and pose a health risk for children and pets who play in the parks.
In addition, the birds would often feed upon and decimate the grassy areas where they congregated.
The fight against geese has taken place all over the state.
Staff at the County College of Morris used lawnmowers to harass the migratory waterfowl and "scare guns" were used at the Morris County Parks Commission's Flanders Valley Goff course
Hanover eventually resorted to euthanizing the geese by carbon dioxide when their bird infestation became unmanageable.
The City of Linden last year hired a private vendor to help reduce the geese population that was soiling two of their popular municipal parks.
"We had a resident population of about 100 to 150 birds in Veterans Memorial Park and another 50 at Wilson Park," said Al MacDonald, the city's superintendent of public property.
He said Goose Control Technology of New Jersey Inc. in Metuchen charged the city to destroy the birds' eggs and to remove a number of adult geese for butchering, with their meat being donated to food kitchens.
The program was so successful in controlling the goose population and reducing droppings last year that the city is continuing the project this year
Under a $20,000 contract approved earner this month by the Union County Freeholders, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's wildlife services are working with county workers to find goose nests in seven county-owned parks.
Sigmund said the problem of goose droppings "has been escalating" at Black Brook Park, Kenilworth, Echo Lake Park that straddles Mountainside and Westfield, Cedar Brook Park in Plainfield, Rahway River Park in Rahway, Nomahegan Park in Cranford, Kawameeh Park in Union Township and Warinanco Park in Roselle.
"We still use the dog provided by the sheriff to harass the birds off our golf courses, but they can't be used in a larger park setting where there is vehicular traffic," he said.
Sigmund said once the eggs are found they will be "coated with oil so the shell is not as porous and the embryo inside cannot receive oxygen and therefore will not develop."
The search team are also puncturing the eggs to prevent hatching.
Officials said the egg tampering methods for controlling goose populations are sanctioned by the United States Humane Society.
Sigmund said simply destroying the eggs only encourages the birds to lay more elsewhere and less hatching reduces the reasons for the adult birds to remain in the same area
Daniel Bernier, director of the Division of Park Planning and Maintenance, has said that "geese lay in the neighborhood of a dozen eggs a season, or one egg a day for two weeks."
The county said it selected which of its parks to include in the project based on the scope of the problem.
The county's Briant Park in Summit has had its share of problems with goose droppings, but is not on the list.
Mayor Walter Long is not upset.
"I must say the county did an excellent job with its deer management program in the Watchung Reservation and while geese are a whole different problem, the fact that they are addressing the situation is good news and I hope it works," said the mayor.
Robert E. Misseck can be reached at rmisseck@starledgercom, or at (908) 302-1507.
Courtesy of the The Star-Ledger - March 28, 2003
