RE: BEACHNET==> Gull wiring at beaches

[Elizabeth Alm <alm1ew@cmich.edu>]

Apparently, from my conversations with a number of gull/geese deterrent
experts,  gull and geese deterrent strategies may need to be quite
different.  Geese are rather skittish and can be chased away
relatively easily and will then tend to stay away, but gulls are much
more persistent and harassment techniques must be consistent and
protracted.

Liz

Eric:
 
My involvement with this network evolved from the Blue Flag designation at Wasaga Beach Provincial Park in Ontario. Your question about gull wiring at beaches reminded me of a recent presentation I attended that was given by Scott Thomas, Superintendent at Six Mile Provincial Park in Ontario. I checked with Scott to see if he had any written reports or an update that I could share. There isn?t a report but Scott did share the following:
 
At Six Mile Provincial Park, a ?net? type product like monofilament was not used as the issues related to geese and they tend to not fly onto the beach but instead land on the water and swim in to the beach area. Tactics comprised of motion activated sprinklers (with signage) during shoulder season only,  staff ?harassment? by driving Gators on the beach areas etc., hanging coveralls from trees, and professional goose control canine performing random visits. Of course campers on the beach are a deterrent in high use times.
 
The results from these activities included:

• No closed beach days which is a reduction from 2 to 4 bad water quality samples annually that resulted in closed beaches.
• No written complaints from park users which is a significant reduction from dozens of written complaints in previous years.

 
In conclusion, although there is no one technique that appeared to work best; this combination of approaches has proven to be successful in deterring geese from the beaches at Six Mile Provincial Park. Generally the trick was to create an unwelcoming and unsettling environment which contributed to encouraging the geese to move on.
 
John Fisher
Park Superintendent
Wasaga Beach Provincial Park
Ontario Parks

---

From: owner-beachnet@great-lakes.net [ mailto:owner-beachnet@great-lakes.net] On Behalf Of O'Brien, Eric [DNR]
Sent: November 26, 2007 3:39 PM
To: beachnet@great-lakes.net
Subject: BEACHNET==> Gull wiring at beaches
 
Hello all ?
 
Does anyone have examples of cases where wiring was used to deter gulls/geese from beaches?  I have heard some people talk about them being a cheap deterrent, but the only example I could find was from Ottowa and cost sever hundred thousand dollars.  Any information about who to contact, design schematics or pictures of the systems would be very helpful. 

 

Thanks,

Eric

 

_______________________________________________

Eric O?Brien

Beach Monitoring Coordinator

Iowa DNR, Water Monitoring

109 Trowbridge Hall

Iowa City, IA 52242-1319

 

Office: (319) 353-2835

Cell: (319) 560-6128

Email: Eric.OBrien@dnr.iowa.gov

_______________________________________________
 

_______________________________________
Elizabeth Wheeler Alm, Ph.D.
Professor, Microbiology
157 Brooks Hall
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, MI  48859
email: alm1ew@cmich.edu
web address: http://www.cst.cmich.edu/users/alm1ew/index.html

Office phone: 989-774-2503
Lab phone: 989-774-1862
Dept. phone: 989-774-3227
Dept. fax: 989-774-3462