CHICAGO (WBBM) - The Chicago Park District has “unleashed” its newest weapon in the war against flocks of sea gulls polluting beach water and forcing swim bans every summer--dogs.
WBBM's Bernie Tafoya has the story.
Border collies will be used on the two beaches with the highest number of swim bans last summer, Foster Avenue Beach and 63rd Street Beach.
Ellen Sargent of the Chicago Park District Natural Resources Department says it’s hoped the dogs will intimidate the sea gulls into finding other places to scavenge for food.
Sargent says the border collies from Wild Goose Chase will show up at different times at the two beaches so the sea gulls don’t get used to seeing them at the same time.
Sea gull droppings are believed to contribute to high bacteria levels which trigger swimming bans by the Park District.
Susan Hagberg, president of Wild Goose Chase, says beach-goers can help reduce the sea gull populations at beaches by throwing away garbage in trash bins that have lids on them and by not feeding the sea gulls.
Sargent echoes those sentiments saying the sea gulls know they can find a “buffet” at the beach and so they gather in great numbers.
Sargent says a count at 63rd Street Beach this morning found that at least 150 sea gulls were gathered along the shore.
Last year, the border collie program was tested for a few weeks at Foster Avenue beach and found to reduce the sea gull population by about 30 percent, according to Sargent.
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