Goose population can be moved by local lakes

By Lisa Brody

With an overpopulation of Canadian geese walloping Bloomfield Township lakes, the Bloomfield Township board of trustees approved an egg/nest destruction program and goose round up and relocation program at their meeting on Monday, December 11.

Township Clerk Martin Brook explained the township goose program is for 2024 through 2028, and has been in place since at least 1998, following the directive of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). “We took the DNR requirements, looked at other communities and tweaked it,” he said.

Brook noted that Bloomfield Township has been impacted by the overpopulation of Canada geese inhabiting the grounds including, but not limited to, the following associations and lakes within the Township: Echo Lake, Forest Lake, Gilbert Lake, Hammond Lake, Heather Lake in the Chestnut Run North Subdivision, Hunter Lake, Island Lake, Kern Lake, Kirkwood Lake, Lower Long Lake, Meadow Lake, Minnow Lake, Orange Lake, Shorewood Lake, Sodon Lake, Upper Long Lake, Wabeek Lake and Wing Lake.

The township, along with the DNR, have determined that the DNR's egg/nest destruction program and goose round-up and relocation program are effective for the control of site specific problems for its residents such as mitigating wildlife damage and various nuisances associated with the birds.

He explained the goal is to not have any of the birds killed during their removal and relocation. All rounding up of geese and relocation must be done by professionals, of which he noted there are several services, such as “Goosebusters.”

A lake or homeowner association must acquire a permit for the program on an annual basis, which can be acquired at no cost to residents.