| MARCH 16, 2011 -- The Nature Conservancy's Saugatuck River Watershed Partnership (SRWP) will conduct a free public workshop on Goose Population Stabilization, to be led by Denise Savageau, conservation director for the Town of Greenwich. The workshops will be offered from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 17, at the Norfield Grange, 12 Goodhill Road in Weston.
Goose waste is a source of nutrient pollution, which when washed into local streams causes degradation of water quality and aquatic habitats. An average adult goose consumes four pounds of grass and produces two pounds of waste daily. Goose droppings on lawns, parks, and playgrounds are a nuisance, and the public must either avoid those areas or provide special maintenance to clear the grass. Goose droppings are also a potential health hazard harboring parasites, viruses, and bacteria while over-enriching streams and ponds and encouraging unsightly and smelly algal scum.
The GeesePeace program, which will be discussed at the workshop, is approved by the Humane Society and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). The US Fish and Wildlife Service regulations and reporting forms will also be discussed.
Property owners, golf course managers, town health officials, conservation officers, park managers, and other interested individuals or groups are encouraged to attend to learn more about control techniques, the problems associated with Connecticut's goose population, and ways to keep our environment healthy.
To reserve your spot for the workshop, contact Sally Harold, SRWP project director, at (203) 226-4991, x113, or by e-mail at sharold@tnc.org.
The Norfield Grange is located at 12 Goodhill Road in Weston, just east of the traffic light at the intersection of Route 57 and Goodhill Road. |
