BY ADAM ATKINSONNorth Country This Week

POTSDAM — The village is buying two sets of swan decoys to install in Ives Park to keep the wild geese out of the park.

The board discussed the issue at its meeting Monday, June 17 and authorized Village Administrator Isabelle Gates-Shult to purchase two sets of the swans. Gates-Shult said the purchase would cost around $160 per set. 

“It’s crazy, we almost can’t even walk in the park. There are just so many of them,” said Village Trustee Sharon Williams who suggested the swans idea.

Ives Park, and the islands and other shorelines of the Raquette River in Potsdam in recent years has been an attraction for Canadian geese and their goslings in spring and summer, but unfortunately with the aftermath as well.

Swan decoys like the ones found at https://tinyurl.com/demzzj83 are often used to deter wild geese from public areas where they might congregate enmasse without the use of more invasive methods. Swans are territorial and naturally keep geese away from the areas where they settle.

“In terms of price they are really inexpensive,” Gates-Shult told the board. “So we could have it as a trial with board approval.”

The village plans to place a swan decoy set at each end of the park offshore.

Village officials have discussed other options to keep the geese out of the park in the past, including netting which was not supported due to the danger to the birds.

The board agreed to start with the swans and maybe research a more comprehensive approach next year.

The administrator was authorized to purchase the decoys. Mayor Alexandra Jacobs Wilke said the purchase would be reflected in next months expenditure.

Boathouse

In other Ives Park news, the village is researching grant sources to construct a boat house for Ives Park in the future.

The building would ideally house kayak and canoe rentals, as well as private residents kayaks that could be launched from the park.