Town Council approved a roundup of geese for an amount not to exceed $3,000. This expense is not reimbursed by offsetting grant funds. This topic was discussed at the Town’s publicly advertised Public Works & Environmental Committee meeting along with the Town Council meeting held on 4/11/2022. Citizens are welcome to attend public meetings and request to be a citizen to be heard. If you wish to do so, please e-mail: [email protected]
The picture of the geese shown below was taken on March 24th of this year. The location was between the Bloomsburg Town Park and the Susquehanna River. Any citizen walking the trail around the lagoon area can visibly see the concern this brings to Town Council’s attention. The two documents below are reading materials related to this subject. The Wildlife Biologist from the United States Department of Agriculture that the Town is working with, has mentioned that the population in Bloomsburg is estimated to be above the count shown in the below picture (above 40). While the roundup is approved, it does not mean that the population will go to zero, or that it will be successful. As the document from the Humane Society mentioned, “The goal is to reduce the nuisance to an acceptable level. It is not possible, even if it were desirable, to eliminate geese from a community.” There will be signs placed to stop feeding the waterfowl at the Town Park as the food being given are most likely considered an “inappropriate diet”. Any geese that is in the roundup, will be tested, processed and distributed to food cupboards. Town staff has used proper harassment techniques by using whistlers, bangers, etc. since 2016. Having an effective goose management program will help the goose population in order to maintain a healthy Town park environment for citizens to keep enjoying.
