J
janeeng
Guest
ok, so call me ridiculous after this, but I think killing of the geese or Addling goose eggs is disgusting. Guess I am just the nature freak who thinks this is WRONG!!!!!!!! 
NORTH BRUNSWICK: New tactics in the endless battle to control the Canada geese population are being explored by township officials.
Spraying affected areas at Jersey Avenue and Orchard Street and Commerce Boulevard and Hartland Commons Road with chemicals to deter the geese "worked for a while," said Louann Benson, director of Parks and Recreation.
JOE McLAUGHLIN/Staff photographer
More than a dozen Canada geese swim in the pond near Jersey Avenue and Orchard Street in North Brunswick late last month. The township is looking at ways to reduce the population.
Now officials are looking at other methods.
Addling goose eggs to prevent hatching and using border collies to corral the birds are techniques under review.
With a permit from the state Division of Fish and Wildlife, Benson could hire a company to do the addling, which is performed in the first 10 to 14 days after the eggs are laid. After being taken from the nest, the eggs are either punctured, frozen, shaken or put in oil.
Once the goose realizes the eggs won't hatch, it will walk away from the nest, Benson said.
She said the process is approved by the Division of Fish and Wildlife, the Humane Society and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).
The township would have to pay $100 per nest for the procedure, she said.
Benson also met with a Howell-based group called the Geese Police to discuss using border collies as a possible solution.
The collie's gaze intimidates geese, and they move or fly away. Benson said the stare is "wolflike."
"They think they are in danger," she said.
Border collies usually are used from February to June. They are sent to geese-infested areas three to four times a day at different times, Benson said.
She said the township would use one border collie for a place such as Boyds Pond. The dog responds to the command of its trainer and does not react to anyone else, Benson added.
Using the collies would cost $350 for the first two weeks and $275 for the remaining weeks.
Although Mayor David Spaulding said he has an aversion to killing animals, he believes tactics now being used to discourage the geese population are not working. He said the methods only push geese from one area to another, creating a problem for someone else.
"This is not eliminating the problem," he said.
Spaulding said he favors more drastic actions to reduce the population. "We have to seriously consider killing some geese," he said. "I know a lot of people will find it distasteful, but what alternative do we have?"
Township Council members urged caution and recommended nonlethal means. "Let's see if they're a couple things in between," said Councilman Bob Davis.
"I don't see where legally we can take any more drastic action," said Council President Mac Womack.
Councilman Adam Weiss said he is vehemently opposed to killing geese. He said they do not pose a public-health risk. He said he opposes using addling, even though the rest of the council was receptive to the idea.
Spaulding asked Weiss if he agreed that if the township uses nonlethal methods, it would just push the problem to another municipality.
"We may, but I don't think this issue necessitates killing the geese," Weiss responded.
Director of Human Services Leslie MacNeill said the Middlesex County Health Department does not have a written policy for geese complaints, nor do they recommend methods of control.
She said the township should not get involved with geese on private property. The onus would be on the property owner to contact the Division of Fish and Wildlife for assistance, she added.
Health officials said some methods provide a temporary fix, but there is no long-term solution
NORTH BRUNSWICK: New tactics in the endless battle to control the Canada geese population are being explored by township officials.
Spraying affected areas at Jersey Avenue and Orchard Street and Commerce Boulevard and Hartland Commons Road with chemicals to deter the geese "worked for a while," said Louann Benson, director of Parks and Recreation.
JOE McLAUGHLIN/Staff photographer
More than a dozen Canada geese swim in the pond near Jersey Avenue and Orchard Street in North Brunswick late last month. The township is looking at ways to reduce the population.
Now officials are looking at other methods.
Addling goose eggs to prevent hatching and using border collies to corral the birds are techniques under review.
With a permit from the state Division of Fish and Wildlife, Benson could hire a company to do the addling, which is performed in the first 10 to 14 days after the eggs are laid. After being taken from the nest, the eggs are either punctured, frozen, shaken or put in oil.
Once the goose realizes the eggs won't hatch, it will walk away from the nest, Benson said.
She said the process is approved by the Division of Fish and Wildlife, the Humane Society and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).
The township would have to pay $100 per nest for the procedure, she said.
Benson also met with a Howell-based group called the Geese Police to discuss using border collies as a possible solution.
The collie's gaze intimidates geese, and they move or fly away. Benson said the stare is "wolflike."
"They think they are in danger," she said.
Border collies usually are used from February to June. They are sent to geese-infested areas three to four times a day at different times, Benson said.
She said the township would use one border collie for a place such as Boyds Pond. The dog responds to the command of its trainer and does not react to anyone else, Benson added.
Using the collies would cost $350 for the first two weeks and $275 for the remaining weeks.
Although Mayor David Spaulding said he has an aversion to killing animals, he believes tactics now being used to discourage the geese population are not working. He said the methods only push geese from one area to another, creating a problem for someone else.
"This is not eliminating the problem," he said.
Spaulding said he favors more drastic actions to reduce the population. "We have to seriously consider killing some geese," he said. "I know a lot of people will find it distasteful, but what alternative do we have?"
Township Council members urged caution and recommended nonlethal means. "Let's see if they're a couple things in between," said Councilman Bob Davis.
"I don't see where legally we can take any more drastic action," said Council President Mac Womack.
Councilman Adam Weiss said he is vehemently opposed to killing geese. He said they do not pose a public-health risk. He said he opposes using addling, even though the rest of the council was receptive to the idea.
Spaulding asked Weiss if he agreed that if the township uses nonlethal methods, it would just push the problem to another municipality.
"We may, but I don't think this issue necessitates killing the geese," Weiss responded.
Director of Human Services Leslie MacNeill said the Middlesex County Health Department does not have a written policy for geese complaints, nor do they recommend methods of control.
She said the township should not get involved with geese on private property. The onus would be on the property owner to contact the Division of Fish and Wildlife for assistance, she added.
Health officials said some methods provide a temporary fix, but there is no long-term solution
