City holds the line against fowl droppings

Neal Cardin

A gaggle of geese feed on the banks of Freeman Lake Park on Wednesday afternoon.

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Neal Cardin

Three lines of baling twine wrapped around tobacco sticks are being used to keep geese from wandering through the grass in front of the band stand area at Freeman Lake Park where the Pops in the Park will take place this Friday night.

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By JOHN FRIEDLEIN jfriedlein@thenewsenterprise.com ELIZABETHTOWN — City workers are trying to keep an extra “o” out of Pops in the Park. A foot-high line of twine, anchored by tobacco stakes, surrounds the bandstand area of Freeman Lake Park to keep out waterfowl and their droppings. The barrier seems to be working, meaning Friday’s Louisville Orchestra concert will be easier on the nose than past events. “They don’t cross over into that area,” said City Councilman Ron Thomas, referring to the birds. “That area is as clean as it has been for a long time.” Less effective was the application of an expensive chemical that is supposed to make grass taste foul to fowl. Workers sprayed it before the REO Speedwagon concert earlier this month. The city probably will leave the twine up for the rest of the summer. Part of the line is where the water meets the land. Fowl often enter the bandstand area from the lake, said Park Manager Chuck Sprinkle. The barrier, though, does not solve the overall problem. Deterred from the concert area, the geese simply move to another part of the lake. Anglers and boaters have complained about droppings in other areas, especially near the dam. The problem is compounded because the city would be in trouble if workers chased the fowl into an adjacent neighborhood, Thomas said. “We’re still looking into it,” he said of controlling the growing bird population. On its own, the city can’t kill Canada geese or mallards because of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Anyway, it’s against the law to fire a gun in the city limits. Other options could include a no-feeding rule, moving nests and setting up strobe lights. John Friedlein can be reached at (270) 505-1746.