Falls Working To Chase Geese From Park

FALLS TOWNSHIP, PA — Canada geese — and the droppings they leave behind — have become a problem that's being addressed at Falls Township Community Park.

The board of supervisors in Falls has approved a yearlong, multi-faceted plan to reduce the number of geese who flock to the park. It's the latest in a series of goose-management efforts that started several years ago, township officials say.

Where, once, 200 or more geese frequented the park, now, there's a maximum of around 100 birds when they flock there, S&S Wildlife Control Services President Rick Shadel told supervisors this week.

"There will always be a need for some level of management at the lake," Shadel said. "

In 2018, Falls spent $14,868 on geese management, compared to $27,000 spent the year before. The costs are dropping as less and less work is required.

For 2019, Falls will be using a 10-month "hazing" effort that includes aggressive action on foot, noise, lasers and lights. There also will be a 10-week program using border collies trained to shoo geese away from specific areas.

The board voted 4-1 in favor of the plan, to be carried out by S&S at a cost of no more than $27,200.