Stay away

Efforts by the Department of Public Works appear to be mitigating a long-running problem with geese droppings in Haverstick Park. But like the rest of New Jersey, Middlesex Borough may face an even more serious health problem from the birds.

Double-sided dog decoys were placed at Haverstick two weeks ago. That step was taken after park neighbors spoke at a Borough Ccuncil meeting about an excessive number geese – sometimes as many as 50 to 100 – visiting the park on most days.

Their concern was that droppings left behind by the geese are posing a potential health issue for young athletes and others who frequent Haverstick. Exposure to geese droppings carries the risk of contracting E. coli, Salmonella and other illnesses. 

DPW Supervisor Len Vidal said placement of the decoy dogs has been “very effective” in dealing with the geese. Quotes have also been obtained for treating the grass in several borough parks with a goose repellant, he said.

Vidal is in contact with one of Haverstick Park’s neighboring homeowners to monitor whether problems with the birds reoccur.

On a recent Saturday, the decoys appeared to be working well. No geese were present at Haverstick in the early afternoon on March 1. The municipality, however, was not entirely free of geese. Several could be observed not far away on Lincoln Boulevard where the stream from Creighton Lake feeds into Piscataway.

And where there’s geese, there’s the potential for bird flu. That’s a statewide health issue that has reared its head in recent weeks, just as the borough is attempting to reduce the birds’ presence at Haverstick.

Although human infections are rare, bird flu can cause mild to severe illness in people, including pneumonia and death. Infected birds spread avian influenza viruses through their saliva, mucous and feces, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Symptoms of bird flu infection in humans include fever, cough, sore throat and shortness of breath.

Dead geese found in three municipally owned parks in the Monmouth County municipality of Allentown on Feb. 4 tested positive for bird flu. Allentown closed two of the parks completely and another partially. Clusters of sick and deceased wild birds were also discovered in Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, Salem and Warren counties in February.

Dead geese were reported in Ocean County as well. Several days ago, two cats in Hunterdon County were reported to have contracted bird flu. One of the felines, a feral cat, was euthanized after becoming severely ill.

The Middlesex Borough DPW has not found any dead geese recently, Vidal said on Friday, Feb. 28. Allentown is roughly 40 miles from Middlesex Borough. Parts of Hunterdon County are about half of that distance. News reports of the bird flu cases in Hunterdon did not identify the municipality where they occurred.

In Sayreville, located elsewhere in Middlesex County, multiple dead geese were found in a park on Tuesday, Feb. 25. State and health officials are investigating.

The Middlesex County Office of Health Services issued an advisory on Feb. 28 regarding H5N1 Avian Influenza (bird flu).

“While there are currently no human cases in New Jersey, we encourage all residents to take simple precautions to stay safe,” the advisory states.

It advises the avoidance of contact with sick or dead birds. Appropriate authorities should be contacted if sick or dead wildlife is encountered. Gloves and masks should be used when handling birds or animals.

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