Friday, March 23rd, 2018
Dogs enlisted in effort to scare pesky geese away from Grand Lake beaches
By Ed Gebert
Photo by Ed Gebert/The Daily Standard
A golden retriever pauses during exercise time at a beach at Grand Lake St. Marys State Park. The ODNR has opened beaches to dogs at more than 30 state parks through May 18. Officials hope this will help keep geese from congregating on the beaches.
ST. MARYS - Area dogs have both a new place to play and a new service to perform this spring.
More than 30 Ohio State Park beaches, including the campground beach, East Beach, West Beach and Windy Point Beach at Grand Lake, have been temporarily designated as dog exercise areas through May 18 during regular park hours.
"The idea is, we have a lot of issues with geese at the state parks. One of the problems with geese is they like to use our beaches because it's easy walking into the water and it's easy walking out," said Dave Faler, GLSM State Park director. "The problem is what they leave behind cause high E. coli, so it causes our beaches to be shut down at different times."
As a solution, Ohio Department of Natural Resources officials are hoping residents will bring their canine companions to help scare away the geese and keep them from congregating there.
"The idea of it is, from now until May 18, people can take their dogs out there, take them off the leash and the dogs can chase the geese around," Faler said.
Faler reminds dog owners that, while their pets are not required to be on a leash, they should be under control at all times.
Other area state parks offering dog-exercise beaches include Indian Lake, Lake Loramie and Caesar Creek.
Operating hours at Grand Lake St. Marys State Park are from sunrise to 11 p.m. daily. On May 19, all public park beaches at Ohio state parks will resume normal rules, including no pets on the beach or in the public swimming area.
