Community Issues
Wildlife Management
All suburban communities are challenged to strike a balance between homeowners' rights and the humane treatment of the abundant wildlife that multiplies unchecked without natural predators. AGWG's proximity to golf courses, parks, the stream and the Merrifields pond exacerbates the problem for us.
While some homeowners object to efforts aimed at reducing wildlife populations, others are equally intent on protecting their property from the material and esthetic damage inflicted by foraging deer, geese, and other wildlife, such as the enormous flock of vultures that took up residence on Gayfields and Merrifields two years ago.
This section will explore options for maintaining harmony between residents and our furry and winged friends. Submit articles to Admin@agwgcivicassociation.org and include the source and publication date of your information (e.g., government agency, academic institution, etc.).
Nuisance Geese a Health Hazard, According to CDC
In 2006 Gayfields homeowners may have noticed their neighbors within a block of the pond on Merrifields Drive taking measures to encourage our burgeoning Canada Goose population to relocate to a more rural area. An adult goose consumes as much as four pounds of turf grass daily according to local representatives of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and deposits between one and three pounds of droppings per day on the lawns, driveways, and walkways of homeowners closest to the pond and in favored grazing areas on Merrifields Drive and Morningmist. This concentration of droppings in a small area creates conditions that encourage disease, viruses, bacterial infections, and parasites to thrive, including: Cryptosporidiosis, Giardiasis, Salmonella, E.coli, Influenza A. Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis, and Chlamydia ( see research findings posted on Centers for Disease Control Website), all extremely worrisome to homeowners with children, visiting grandkids, pets, or those fearing contamination of their well water.
Neighbors lacking a fence or resident dog report that their yards had become largely unusable as a result of goose damage, and that the stench of the droppings in the summertime was unbearable. While the Migratory Bird Treaty Act makes it unlawful to kill, sell, hunt, purchase, or possess geese, or to disturb nests or eggs, both state and local authorities sanction a wide range of hazing techniques to encourage non-migratory geese to relocate, including scaring devices (reflective balloons or tape, effigies, lawn sprinklers, noisemakers), and harassment with hoses, lasers, dogs, and remote control devices. Homeowners are asked not to feed the geese out of consideration for their neighbors closest to the pond. Anyone concerned with the appropriateness of techniques being employed by their neighbors should contact the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Nuisance Wildlife Hotline at 1-877-463-6497 (toll free) or the Montgomery County Animal Services Division, which is charged with protecting the public from nuisance animals (240-773-5925).