YEAGERTOWN — Derry Township will move forward with a waterfowl management agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture, despite an online onslaught of backlash from township residents regarding the relocation of Kish Park ducks and geese.

During an April 1 public meeting of the Derry Township Board of Supervisors, the board voted to enter an agreement with the USDA to manage the over-population of waterfowl in Kish Park.

USDA Wildlife Specialist Nokota Harpster reportedly recommended to the board that a harassment method be implemented to scare some of the birds into migration while others be captured and relocated to healthier environments. Additionally, “Do not feed the wildlife” signs are set to be installed and enforced throughout the park with a township ordinance to prevent the community from feeding harmful amounts of bread, corn and other food to all animals in the park.

According to Township Manager Kelly Shutes, local ducks and geese have posed a significant problem to the park throughout the past two years. The birds have continuously eroded the streambanks of Kish Creek by sliding down the embankments into the water as well as digging up and ingesting shrubbery that was planted to stabilize the stream banks.

Additionally, the township had received several complaints from local residents regarding the amount of bird feces on the local ball fields and walking trails. Other residents have also expressed concerns over the temperament of the geese, noting that the birds have attacked children and park-goers.

The USDA’s website states, “…overabundance of ducks, geese and swans in natural areas may cause erosion and reduce water quality due to feces and runoff…Defense of nests and young by geese and swans can result in injuries to people who approach too closely.”

“As much as we like the ducks, they’ve created more problems for us than good,” Supervisor Ron Napikoski said during the meeting earlier this month.

Board Chairman John McCullough also noted during the meeting that there was no guarantee that the birds wouldn’t return once relocated, so the population management would be an ongoing process.

Amid the reasoning for the USDA agreement, many individuals have recently taken to Facebook to express their disapproval of the agreement, citing their concerns for the safety of the ducks and geese, as well as fear over a seeming end to the tradition of feeding the birds.

As of 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday evening, “Save kish park ducks from being relocated!,” an online petition circulating on social media, garnered approximately 2,783

signatures in attempt to prevent the birds from being removed from the park.

Shutes explained that the township understands the concerns of residents, but noted that the goal of the management agreement is not to remove all ducks and geese from the park. Rather, measures are being taken to reduce the population, improve the park environment and create a healthier habitat for the domestic ducks and geese.

Also, while signage and an ordinance will be put in place to prevent park-goers from feeding local wildlife, the board of supervisors previously stated they have no intention of fining individuals for violating the ordinance.

“The USDA actually has a program, it’s a scientifically-proven program that they do, they’ve done it in lots of other parks and it’s regulated by the United States government, it’s not some off-the-wall procedure that we’re going to try,” Shutes said.

In addition to the harassment method and relocation efforts, Shutes said that a certified specialist from the USDA will treat some of the eggs to control the reproduction and future populations. Canada geese are also protected by federal law, so they will not be affected by the agreement, once signed.

“Canada geese are a protected species, it’s not something that anyone can regulate,” Shutes added. “No harm is coming to any [birds], it’s just that it’s bad for them to congregate in such large numbers.”

Shutes added that some of the waterfowl can carry bacteria and potential diseases that can affect both the birds and people. The USDA’s website notes, “Populations of waterfowl may contaminate recreational areas with pathogenic bacteria that may pose human-health risks.”

“That is our job, to look after public safety, and it’s the same thing with the ecology of the park, that’s our job to be stewards of the township park,” Shutes said.

The actual agreement with the USDA still needs to be signed by the Derry Township supervisors. Once signed, waterfowl management will go into effect later this spring.

The next meeting for the Derry Township Board of Supervisors will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, April 22 for anyone interested in addressing their concerns to the township.