?Alligator? scares geese from beach

Volunteer Frank Wintroub is spearheading an effort to deter geese from the Reservoir No. 1/Bonnifield Lake beach.

After the beach was reopened to swimmers this summer, Wintroub received a lot of complaints about goose droppings. After volunteers spent about two weeks cleaning the beach each morning, Wintroub began looking for a better solution.

One of the simplest solutions, Wintroub discovered, is stringing line across the beach where the sand and water meet. Wintroub and a small group of volunteers have assumed the responsibility for putting the line out each night and removing it each morning.

In the 10 days since this effort has been under way, the beach has been dropping-free.

Wintroub also has purchased a fake alligator head that reportedly scares the geese away for good. He hopes to place the floating, life-size alligator head in the lake in the next few days.

Wintroub also is looking into obtaining a flashing white light, another reportedly effective method of keeping geese away.

Right now, around five volunteers are helping with the beach efforts, and Wintroub said more are needed. Anyone interested in volunteering can contact Wintroub at frankwintroub@gmail.com.