AVON-BY-THE-SEA — The Boroughs of Bradley Beach and Avon-By-The-Sea will be sharing the cost of a goose patrol business starting this September.
According to Avon Mayor Ed Bonanno, the commissioners will be voting on a resolution at the meeting on Aug. 28 to approve the funding for Galaxy Geese Removal at $500 for both towns.
“We will start with the month of September and see how it goes,” said Mayor Bonanno. “When the living shoreline starts we won’t need it and the geese will stay away.”
Mayor Bonanno said the organization is run by Mike Campbell with his dog Galaxy. According to Mayor Bonanno, Mr. Campbell’s dog is a herding breed trained to chase and herd Canada geese. With his company, Mr. Campbell takes the dog out on a daily basis to herd the geese in the area and chase them back into the water. According to Mr. Bonanno, the dog is also trained not to bother other waterfowl including swans.
“It’s a reasonable cost; the problem gets to be acute at times for people,” said Mayor Bonanno. “There are a few areas of Avon and Bradley where it is a big problem…So we are going to try to tackle it and I hope we are successful.”
Mr. Bonanno also said that once Galaxy gets the geese in the water, the chase does not end there. He said remote control boats are also deployed into the water to herd and scare them out of the area.
“These tactics are good because they are not going to harm or harass the ducks,” said Mayor Bonanno.
While this solution will be used in Avon, along with egg coating during the breeding season, Mayor Bonanno is hopeful the second phase of Avon’s living shoreline project will end the problem for good.
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