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Coastal Crawl approved; council agrees to trial goose-deterrent lights at Zorn Park
Summary
The council approved the annual Coastal Crawl event and agreed to a pilot purchase of low-amber solar lights (vendor-quoted ~97% success) to deter geese at Zorn Park, subject to references and monitoring; estimated cost about $1,000 for four units.
The Harbor Springs City Council approved the annual Coastal Crawl paddle event and agreed to pilot a wildlife management measure at Zorn Park aimed at reducing goose droppings on the beach.
Patrick Ryan, who runs the Coastal Crawl, asked the council to continue city support for park maintenance and public-safety logistics for the event set for Aug. 2. He and board members raised a persistent problem: heavy Canada-goose presence at Zorn Park that leaves fecal waste on lawns and beaches used by families and event participants.
Proposed pilot: Ryan presented a vendor’s solar, low-amber ground lights that cycle on and off and are marketed to disrupt geese sleeping behavior; the seller quoted a roughly $1,000 price for four units and a money-back guarantee if ineffective. Ryan characterized the device as low to the ground and said the units could be deployed overnight and removed in the morning to avoid daytime impacts on park users.
Council reaction and conditions: Members asked for municipal references, effects on nearby properties and operational details. Council agreed the approach is worth trying but asked that staff obtain referrals from other Michigan communities and monitor results; one member also suggested testing other deterrents in parallel (e.g., targeted repellents or increased dog-walking in the park). The council agreed that the city would move forward with procuring units as a pilot provided references validated vendor claims.
Ending: The Coastal Crawl was approved and the council authorized a limited pilot purchase and monitoring plan for goose-deterrent lights, with staff to report back on effectiveness and neighborhood impacts.
