4/2/13 - They may have been taken by surprise last summer, but this year the City of Howell is prepared to take on the flock of Canada geese moving in on Thompson Lake. The geese settle on the beach of the lake, where their droppings cause a spike in E.Coli levels in swimming waters. Last year the city tried to deter the birds with free-spinning coyote decoys, but they did not prove as effective as hoped. The problem got so bad the lake had to be closed to residents due to health concerns as mandated by the state. Before the end of the summer the city council approved spending money to hire a private company to deal with the animals, and Parks and Rec Director Debbie Mikula tells WHMI a meeting is scheduled with the goose removal specialist this spring. Their methods could include resuming the coyote decoys in conjunction with a capture-and-release system to move the birds. Additionally, the company could talk to the city about landscaping options, such as high grass or large rocks, that could deter geese from settling on the beach since they prefer having direct walking access to the water. Mikula says the company contracted by the city uses humane relocation techniques. In addition, residents are asked not to feed the geese. (TD)
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