TANNERSVILLE — Last year, the Village of Tannersville completed its $1.5 million Upper Lake Park project, funded through a portion of the $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant awarded to the Village in 2021.

The renovated park features expansive green spaces, picnic tables, walking trails, catch basins planted with wildflowers, two floating docks, bird boxes, ample parking, and two pavilions. But visitors taking a stroll around the lake are just as likely to notice something else: goose droppings.

Approximately 25 resident Canada geese return to the park each year to nest. Each goose produces an estimated one to three pounds of droppings every day. While much of the waste accumulates on the lawns and walking paths, a significant amount also ends up in Rip Van Winkle Lake itself. Even the small beach near the boathouse—where anyone can swim if they want to despite no lifeguard, is affected.

Beyond being unpleasant, goose droppings pose a potential public health concern. They can introduce bacteria and parasites, including E. coli, Salmonella, Campylobacter, and Giardia, into the water.

According to the Village Board, Rip Van Winkle Lake has not been tested in several years. Village Clerk Robin Dumont said the Village has now ordered water testing because of concerns that swimmers could become ill. Dumont did not know when the water would be tested.

Rip Van Winkle Lake has long been one of the Painted Village's defining landmarks, appearing in postcards and photographs dating back more than a century. Ironically, those historic images were taken before resident Canada geese became a fixture of the landscape.

According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Canada geese were driven to near extinction across North America by the late 19th and early 20th centuries due to overhunting and wetland loss. There were no resident Canada geese in New York at the time. The few birds present were descendants of captive geese released by private landowners in the Lower Hudson Valley and on Long Island.

In the 1950s and 1960s, the State Conservation Department intentionally released Canada geese onto wildlife management areas north and west of Albany to establish resident flocks for hunters. Over the decades, those populations flourished. Today, the species has gone from near extinction to becoming one of the state's most persistent nuisances around lakes, parks, golf courses, and other open waterfront spaces.

Mayor Dr. Lee McGunnigle said the Village has spent the past year trying to keep the birds from taking over its newly renovated park.

"Last year and this spring we took conservative mitigation attempts to limit the geese population and deter geese from taking over our $1.5 million waterfront property," McGunnigle said. "Thus far, the geese are winning."

Those efforts have included installing fencing along the shoreline, placing cardboard coyote decoys around the park, using flashing lights, floating plastic swans on the lake, applying grape juice extract around portions of the shoreline, and purchasing two "scream bang" pistols, which produce a loud explosive report similar to a Roman candle. The mayor has also encouraged early-morning dog walkers to allow their dogs to chase the geese.

One option the Village has not used is oiling goose eggs, a technique that prevents them from hatching.

According to the DEC, "In New York State, landowners, property managers, homeowners' associations, local governments, and their designated agents or licensed nuisance wildlife control operators are authorized to oil Canada goose eggs. No special state permit from the NYSDEC is required, but you must complete a free online registration with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service beforehand."

Deputy Mayor George Kelly said he remains firmly opposed to killing—or culling—the geese.

Last year, Kelly personally spent $500 to hire Hudson Valley Wild Goose Chasers, a goose-control service operated by Peter Rizzo of New City.

Rather than relying solely on the scream bang pistols, Rizzo's method combined several techniques. A border collie first herded the geese into the lake. Rizzo then pursued them in a motorized skiff, firing the scream bang pistol over the birds' heads while maneuvering around them. The repeated harassment caused the geese to fly away, keeping the entire lake goose-free for more than a week.

Following the demonstration, the Village purchased two scream bang pistols. One was issued to Kelly and the other to a Department of Public Works employee.

When asked whether the pistols have been used regularly this season, Kelly replied, "No. The scream bang pistols alone are not enough."

Kelly stressed that Rizzo's system depends on using a motorized skiff in conjunction with the pistols. Because the Village does not own such a boat, he said only part of the recommended strategy has been implemented, despite several canoes sitting near the boathouse.

"I would use a skiff if the Village owned one," Kelly said.

Mayor McGunnigle responded that this was the first time he had heard a motorized skiff was considered an essential part of the process.

Kelly also argued that the Village did not apply enough grape juice extract this year.

"We have the right not to walk in goose shit," Kelly said. "We need at least 25-30 pounds of the grape extract to cover a 30-foot perimeter, and we have to start using it earlier in the season."

Kelly said he contacted the U.S. Department of Agriculture to learn about culling procedures.

"We can't go on a massive killing spree," he said, explaining that USDA personnel gather geese into a refrigerated truck before transporting them to a processing facility where they are euthanized.

Instead, Kelly wants to spare the birds this year while expanding mitigation efforts next spring through increased use of grape juice extract, taller fencing, earlier intervention, and by fully implementing Rizzo's recommendations.

"Give the geese a reprieve this year, and I guarantee there will be no more geese next year," Kelly said.

Trustee Kody Leach agreed that the Village should begin its efforts much earlier in the season. "We're at a point in the season where the geese are getting ready to leave," Leach said. He also agreed that more grape juice extract should be used. "It does work," Leach said, "but I don't think we had enough of it."

Trustee Rebecca Fitting suggested "frontloading" each mitigation strategy next year so that if one method proves ineffective, the Village can immediately move to another. "We're headed toward another year of discussions and attempts at mitigation until it's too late to take action," Fitting said.

Kelly remained adamantly opposed to culling because, in his view, the Village had not yet exhausted all available options. "I'm not killing geese because we made a mistake," he said.

McGunnigle said many residents criticized the Village's attempts at non-lethal deterrence.

"My constituents laughed at me for putting fencing up," he said, adding that many residents believe culling is the only effective solution.

"We have 50-80 pounds of goose shit dropped on our public park every single day," the Mayor said. "I'll have to hire a full-timer just to rake goose droppings."

Last year, the Village employed three Department of Public Works workers, allowing crews to rake the park once or twice each week. This year, with only two full-time DPW employees, that level of maintenance is no longer possible. Instead, the Village voted to hire a full-time secretary for the Village Clerk's office.

Village Trustee Gil Adler, participating via Zoom, thanked Kelly for hiring Rizzo at his own expense and spearheading efforts at mitigation.

"There's a learning curve—we're figuring it out," Adler said.

Adler also suggested allowing K-9 trainers to use the park in the early morning, believing regular dog activity could discourage geese from settling there.

Ultimately, McGunnigle made a motion that if more than six resident geese remain at the Lake by next Memorial Day, the Village will contact the USDA to cull the flock. The motion passed.

"I want these geese out of here," the mayor said.

According to the DEC, "Canada geese are protected in New York State because they are covered by the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. This law makes it illegal to harm, kill, capture, or move the birds, their eggs, or their nests without special permits from federal and state wildlife agencies."

Leach, who serves as park commissioner, said he plans to determine exactly how much grape juice extract would be needed next season.

"I'll figure out the numbers regarding the grape juice extract and go on from there," he said.

McGunnigle remained skeptical of the deterrent's effectiveness, saying he watched this year's application and observed geese walking directly into the treated area to graze.

"I'm frustrated," McGunnigle said. "If I can't get it done, I'm going to look for a solution. My duty as Mayor is to protect the welfare of every citizen in the Village of Tannersville. We tried, and we failed."

Kelly immediately challenged that assessment, arguing the Village had neither tried every available method—such as oiling goose eggs—nor fully implemented the strategies that had already proven effective.

Whether the Village ultimately succeeds in reclaiming Upper Lake Park from its seasonal residents remains to be seen, but officials agreed that next spring's efforts will likely determine whether non-lethal deterrence continues or culling becomes the Village's next course of action. There is also a proposed sign for Rip Van Winkle Park featuring a goose.