WATERFORD TOWNSHIP, Mich. – So many geese have moved into one Waterford Township neighborhood that residents are asking for permission to use fireworks to shoo them away.
Jenna Nadeau lives in the Adams Landing condominiums. She said the geese leave behind a mess and have shown aggression.
"Just on our beaches, we are having a lot of issues with the cleaning up. We are not having too many problems, but I'm hearing of issues of where they're chasing people," Nadeau said.
The residents have asked the township for a variance to use fireworks.
Township Clerk Sue Camilleri said fireworks are only allowed to be used on or around 10 major holidays.
"We are a little reluctant to allow a variance of this sort. The ordinance was put in place because fireworks are a bit of a nuisance. They shoot them off at all hours. People, dogs and cats are driven crazy by them," Camilleri said.
She also said she doesn't think fireworks will solve the problem. They would just push the geese into a different nearby neighborhoods. Instead, Camilleri said the township is testing a repellent on a soccer field that seems to be working.
"That's why they come. They are here to eat. And if you look behind me, there are no geese in sight. This seems to be working very well without any nuisance to neighbors and without any damage to the environment," Camilleri said.
There's no timeframe on when a decision on the variance could be made.