Fairchance
Council hopes to rid park of ducks, geese FAIRCHANCE – Borough council on Wednesday accepted an offer from a wildlife service agency to rid Fairchance Community Park of ducks and geese, angering two residents who want the waterfowl to stay.
Council acted after reading a letter submitted by APHIS Wildlife Services of Bolivar, an agency that works with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, that outlined the removal process and reviewed the number of ducks and geese a wildlife technician found on a visit to the park on Tuesday.
The letter said at least 50 Canada geese, 40 mallard ducks and 15 domestic/hybrid ducks were observed, but the pond at the park is big enough to accommodate only one or two pairs of waterfowl.
Accumulation of fecal matter from the waterfowl is a concern and communal feeding areas harbor diseases, the letter said.
Large number of birds in one place makes them susceptible to diseases, which can be passed to people, according to the letter.
The agency recommended prohibiting feeding the birds, removing all domestic and hybrid ducks and geese and harassing the remaining wild ducks and geese into leaving.
“Once feeding has stopped and the domestics are no longer there, the wild population of waterfowl can be harassed from the area,” the letter said.
The agency offered to feed the domestic waterfowl bread containing a drug to put them to sleep, picking them up and putting them in crates to be taken to an unspecified location for $1,200, according to the letter.
Council accepted the offer after several council members said it is difficult to walk in the park without stepping in waterfowl droppings and the droppings are a health hazard.
However, residents Michele Hutzel said Ermine Rowe said the original complaint they made to council in July was that juveniles were torturing and killing dugs and other wildlife at the park, but they want the waterfowl in the park.
Hutzel said she has been feeding them for many years and Rowe said people from all over the area come to the park just to see the ducks and geese.
“I came here to save the ducks,” Hutzel said.
In addition to accepting the agency’s offer, council voted to install signs that say feeding or abandoning any wildlife at the park is not permitted and authorized solicitor Simon John to prepare an ordinance prohibiting feeding, abandoning or harming wildlife at the park, and setting a $500 fine for violations.
In other business, council:
Agreed to buy 300 tons winter road ash from Belmont Aggregates of Ohio for $6.25 a ton.
Directed the solicitor to determine if the borough owns the mineral rights to the watershed around its reservoirs.
Formed a committee of council members Robert Ellsworth, Vicki Tate and Howard McGhee to keep abreast of developments in Marcellus shale gas drilling.
Agreed to contact the borough’s insurance company about payment for repairing damages at the park caused by storms last winter.