Local governing body makes final decision on geese causing environmental concerns
OCEAN PINES, Md. – Earlier this year, the Ocean Pines Association decided to euthanize almost 300 geese to protect local water quality. Those geese have since returned, and the OPA has a new solution.
OPA General Manager John Bailey told 47ABC Wednesday that continual euthanization is not a long-term solution. Instead, they are hiring an outside company to come in with dogs to chase the geese away.
“Using a border collie program. Maryland Geese Control is the name of the company that we’ll be utilizing,” said Bailey.
In two weeks those Border Collies will be in Ocean Pines patrolling its fields and waters. The hope is that it will force the geese to try to find greener pastures.
“I think it’s worth investigating, certainly. I’d always like to investigate a more natural approach to things rather than just immediately going for euthanizing,” said Ocean Pines resident Karen McClure.
McClure says she was employed for 36 years in Michigan with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and saw the technique work for local airports.
The Border Collies will be used in Ocean Pines from nearly two months at a price tag of $625 a week.
“They chase the geese out of the water. They chase them off of the land,” said Bailey. “It’s also the canals and areas on the golf course where we have geese.”
The company will also remove nests, transport injured fowl to rehab centers, and will be addling eggs to prevent birth.
For the Ocean Pines Association, they know not everyone will be happy with their decision, but they believe going forward this is the best route.
These dogs are trained to move the geese along and not to harm them. We’re told this is the perfect timing to deploy this program. If it proves successful. the Ocean Pines Association will then have time before December to work their 2019 budget to include goose mitigation if they need additional funding.
The Ocean Pines Association is also urging residents to please not feed the geese.
