To Keys Residents
As many of you have been told or personally witnessed, the board is putting forth a final attempted to have the geese relocate.
This started several years ago when the Board was informed by Retention Pond Services (the Keys pond maintenance contractor) that if we didn’t do anything the geese population would continue to increase and with the following consequences. (This spring 2 by fall 20 and next year 40.)
- Geese will eat the retaining grasses around the pond. Maintaining these grasses is part of the maintenance of the pond and is covered by our permit with North Carolina Department of Environmental Assistance.
- The cost of repairing these grasses to keep our permit could run into the thousands of dollars.
- Large population of geese in retention ponds such as ours leads to Fecal Coliform colonies that are harmful to humans and domestic animals. This also is a concern of North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Department of Environmental Assistance & Customer Service and fines could be imposed.
- Geese droppings on land are a potential health issue for animals and humans.
- The pollution of the pond could result in the pond being contaminated.
These consequences where also supported by our landscaper (who has observed the negative impact of large geese populations at other retention ponds) and a professional wildlife management expert. Based on the above, the Board requested options on how to get the geese to leave. We where informed by the above professionals of the following:
1 Plant a ledge of vegetation around the pond cost $25 to $35 K
2 Have the wildlife management expert collect the geese and destroy them
3 Hire a herding dog at $1300 a month
4 Placing a fence around the pond before they breed and keep the gosling out.
5 Blinking light (disrupt sleep)
6 Dog silhouette
The Board chooses the bottom three, least cost.
None of these actions where initiated by the Board. Actions where initiated based on, professionals advising the Board on what actions should be taken. Also, at the last membership meeting in October 2015, it was presented to the membership to
1. Do nothing further,
2. Hire a herding dog, or
3. Try the fence one more time.
It was agreed to by the members present to try the fence again.
If you agree that goose droppings on our driveways, streets, common areas and retention pond are a problem and want to help in our effort to have the geese relocate please contact a Board member to see how you can help.
We hope that the above will help the Keys residents understand the Boards actions.
