Dear Editor:

A picture speaks a thousand words, as did the photos on the Feb. 8 editorial page of a huge gaggle of Canada geese on lawns in the inner harbor. In the spring, each female lays a clutch of an average of five eggs. In a town setting, they have no natural predators. It is no wonder the gaggle has grown to such proportions over the past few years that many residential, business and park areas are overwhelmed by the birds and their business. They feed on lawns. Adult birds defecate up to three pounds of feces a day and droppings contains e-coli and salmonella bacteria. Homeowners and businesses in general have a limited arsenal of marginally effective deterrents against the geese; elderly or seasonal residents and businesses have even fewer options.

Canada geese are protected by federal law. Towns and villages must request a permit from the US Fish and Wildlife Service for the USFWS to remove the geese. In 2014, Oakland, Maine was one of many communities to have such a round-up by the USFWS. Oakland was plagued by only 18 geese! We easily have double that number and will soon have even more with the arrival of spring and the newly hatched goslings.

We hope the town leadership will request a permit from USFWS to remove the geese before the problem gets any worse.

Janet Martin

Boothbay Harbor