Authorities Respond to 'Alligator' Reports at Vernon Complex

VERNON, CT — Authorities in Vernon on Wednesday responded to a local apartment complex after receiving reports that alligators were in a pond on the property. The call came in at about 8 p.m. from the Mansions at Hockanum Crossing, police said. The caller said there were alligators in a pond at the complex, so an animal control officer was sent to investigate.

The alligators turned out to be goose deterrents.

A decoy is located at each end of the pond.

It's not the only place in town that features plastic animals used to scare away geese. Vernon Parks and Recreation director Marty Sitler said the department employs a fake gator and coyote to keep geese away from the Community Pool at Center 375.

The alligators float on the water and simulate real movement, he said. They just have to be moved daily because the geese are "smart," Sitler said. Apartment complex ponds and public pools are like "resorts" for geese, he said, because they offer a place to land, grass nearby to eat and a place to go to the bathroom.

"The alligators work," he said. "They're probably the best things to use. We have one of them and are getting another for next season. But since we've started using them at Center 375, we've had zero geese."

Photo Credit: Chris Dehnel

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