Letter to the editor
To the editor:
In reference to your article on the goose dropping problems at Twin Rivers ("Geese lead to violations," March 15, 2002, Page 1A), the cheapest way to get rid of geese is to stop mowing around the pond.
Geese are attracted to open, mowed grass with close access to water for safety. Wide areas of short grass make it easy for them to spot potential predators in the distance. Constantly growing grass shoots, well-fertilized by goose droppings, supply ample food. Maintaining mowed lawns right down to the water’s edge creates ideal goose habitat around retention basins and ponds. Hundreds of acres of open lawns and small retention ponds have fueled a goose population explosion in recent years.
What geese don’t like is tall, thick vegetation around the edge of a pond. They can’t see over it to watch for predators, they can’t get to open water quickly, and they don’t find as many tender grass shoots to eat.
Planting native shrubs, grasses and wildflowers in a wide margin around the pond will make the area much less attractive to geese and will speed the process of naturalization. A couple of narrow paths to the pond will allow people to access the water’s edge but will not give geese enough room to be comfortable.
In addition, naturalized pond margins improve water quality by slowing rainwater run-off and decreasing soil erosion into the pond. Natural vegetation also creates habitat for other wildlife, particularly songbirds.
Margaret Gargiullo
East Windsor
The writer is a former chairwoman of the East Windsor Environmental Commission.