Selectmen Vote for ‘Geese Relief’

By James Lomuscio

The Board of Selectmen today took a swing at the growing Canada geese population at Westport’s Longshore Club Park where golfers have to play through the birds, even obstinate ones who refuse to leave the putting green.



Geese at Longshore Club Park have been an ongoing problem. Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com Geese at Longshore Club Park have been an ongoing problem.

The birds also pose problems at Compo Beach, where some areas become minefields of bacteria laden, cheroot-sized droppings.

“This is a real health issue,” said First Selectman Jim Marpe. “What they leave behind is not good stuff.”

To that end, the Board of Selectmen unanimously approved Parks and Recreation Director Jennifer Fava’s request for an agreement between the town and Geese-Relief LLC, a geese management company that uses border collies to scare off the problem birds.

The company has a two-year contract, and the 10 dogs and nine handlers go into service July 1, said Fava. They will be active year round.

“It will be a year-long process,” she said.

Fava said the dogs do not attack the geese but stare them down and run after them. She added that the collies would be fitted with life jackets, so they do not drown when chasing the birds out into the water.

She added that the dogs will make a minimum of two visits per day Monday through Saturday and one on Sunday at Westport’s Parks and Recreation properties where geese congregate.

“And it wouldn’t be the same time every day,” said Fava, adding that the surprise element is key.

“They learn that it is not a safe place to be,” she said, adding that Geese Relief will collect data during the process.

Fava said Geese Relief was selected after her department sent out a request for proposals (RFP). The service will be paid for with money already within the Parks and Recreation Department’s budget. She did not say the cost.

According to Fava, the aim of the effort “is to create an environment where they feel threatened.”