Herald - Lantern - Dispatch 21 August '85 93

Gulls Dying at Station—

(From Page 1) tion and the county landfill. Woodbine. It was then that the MUA awarded a $13,500 contract to Joseph L. Lomax Associates of Court House for developing "an effective and environmentally sound plan" to control the gulls. Alexis has asked the county Health Department, federal and state wildlife officials to investigate whether the MUA's wire grid is humane and legal. "I've had calls and I'm checking into it for the people Wee if it's legal," said Cass Clark, president of the Animal Welfare Society. Referring to Joan Thaler of the Health Department. Alexis said. "She's marking time until the MUA makes up its mind about what it's going to do." MUA official Steve Eisenhower didn't return this newspaper's call on tjfet question last week but Lomax did after consulting with MUA and Health Department personnel. "What we are seeing at the transfer station is a number of birds being killed." he said. "We think they're being killed by the (trash) trucks. "WE COULD NOT FIND any evidence that any of the birds have been maimed or injured on the wires," he added, noting that the device has been used successfully in California and at Busch Gardens, Fla. A member of the Wetlands Institute board of directors. Lomax said a flock of about 25,000 Laughing Gulls annually migrates to the marshes nearby. "Fairly intelligent birds." they can utilize different food sources, he said, including panhandling. Traffic Problems? — (From Page 1) Kilpatrick respondided that "the state police are providing effective, efficient police protection and are to be commended." "THEY'RE PROVIDING efficient protection to the extent that they can." said Weiner in a phone interview after the meeting. "But the fact of the matter is that the state recognizes it isn't adequate. They're a fine group of men; it's just that there aren't enough of them to do the job for the territory they're required to cover " State police and local officials had met in Tuckahoe. Upper Township, behind closed doors July 30 and emerged to say they were "satisfied" with state police protection. Local police would be an expensive proposition for the municipalities among, those with the lowest tax rates in the county. Freeholder-Director Gerald M Thornton commented last week that he spoke twice to Upper Township Mayor Daniel Beyel "and he seems to be satisfied. He's happy Local residents are happy I'm sure we feel the same way." O'BRIEN SAID he sent patrols out and had "yet to find a truck parking in a no parking zone by Wawa." one of the muchvoiced complaints of Dennisville residents, "There were two trucks parked there il legally this morning," said Hamman on Aug. 14. She lives next door to the Wawa. Route 47 and Main Street "They speed through here like crazy", said Howard Walizer. her father and neighbor "I'm getting disgusted It's a county road — then let the county do something — let the county put the sheriff in there I'm not sure if we're part of the county cause we don't get much service from them. The shoulder hasn't been mowed this summer." Dennisville residents had complained about trash trucks bound for the county MUA landfill in Woodbine "THEY PROMISED us the trucks were supposed to go through Pennsville. said Walizer. Hamman said that, at the suggestion of state police, she had written down truck license plate numbers to file charges But. she said, she got "scared" because truckers were retaliating by blowing their horns and driving over her lawn Walizer and Hamman said the county postponed until September an Aug 15 meeting of its planning director and engineer with the Dennis Township Planning Board Hammon said she didn't expect much help from Dennis Township officials "They're a bunch of idiots." she said. "You ever see those little dolls that sit in the back of a car and their heads bounce up and down?"

"Five to 10 percent of the population could be killed under chemical procedures." Lomax said of an earlier method proposed for dealing with the depot gulls. "But I didn't like that at all " Instead. U.S. wildlife officials suggested the wire grid. "That's a pretty standard recommendation." explained Ed Butler, a federal wildlife biologist. Although a couple hundred birds killed "might not be an unacceptable level," Butler added, his agency prefers the grid to chemicals. "If you're talking about killing 1,000 over the course of a year through a chemical process, then 25 is not too high." he said of the transfer station toll. "Now. I'm not saying you should set something up specifically to kill some." Butler stressed "We are trying to set something up to try to control the gulls — rather than issue a blanket (license) to _ kill "When we set it up. our intent was to protect the birds," the biologist continued Now. he said, he'll try to determine if the gulls are being caught in the grid and, if so. why. "DO WE NEED TO increase the spacing?" he asked. "Do we increase the height 0 "There's always dead birds around a landfill anyway." Butler noted "Gulls are particularly susceptible to botulism anyway " It's "inherent in soil" and spreads rapidly in hot. dry weather, he explained "They pick this (Type *C'> up in the course of their normal feeding habits." Gulls ingest another botulism (Type "A") from spoiling fish. Butler said, "and that can do some nasty things." It's "tough to culture." he added, and can be transmit ted to humans through skin cuts. "We're going to try to deny this to them in the future." Lomax said of the transfer station The MUA. he said, is about halfway through measures there to pre vent the gulls from feeding at the site. With only half the wire grid in place two months ago. it "cut out all the birds for about two weeks." he said. Mature gulls won't land if they detect difficulty. Lomax added, but immature birds aren't as savvy. They get into the trash and don't move from the path of the disposal trucks, he said When completed. MUA counter measures should deter them from the depot, he maintained 0 Those measures include inserting plastic strips into the transfer station access ways to keep the birds out of the building, the grid and planting pine trees that, when grown, will discourage the gulls but encourage other wildlife to frequent the site. Lomax said. WHY NOT DRAIN THE fire pond and use water from a tank'' he was asked "We don't have fire protection anywhere in that area. " he replied, noting that the 75by 100-foot pond could be used in a mile radius for firefighting "Boy. that would be an unbelievable expense." he said of the tank alternative "You've got a tremendous amount of water in there." Besides, he said, the pond already con tains frogs and fish. It should attract small birds when the pine trees grow, he reasoned "It's going to be 20 years before the trees reach the top of the fence." Alexis observed The MUA didn't plant saplings but sprouts, he said. As far as the pond's concerned. he added, "the algae in it is going to clog the pump on any fire equipment He still wants wildlife officials to inspect the wire grid Commenting on Butler's remarks. Alexis noted: "He recommended the wire but the way it has been applied may have been incorrect — the distance off the water and .whatever "I agree with deterrents,'' the committeeman concluded, "but not ones that are going to injure or kill birds "

County Eyes More — (From Page 1) Jarmer. who introduced Van Nest. "It's innovative, but legal." said Van Nest. Freeholders showed little interest in the techniques Van Nest described as one way to acquire land without "added costs and the burden to the taxpayer " VAN NEST CONCEDED that the pro cedure he described was complicated, and Jarmer said "the third time I heard it. I think I understood it. "But there may be some areas that should be considered," he added. Freeholder Ralph W. Evans guestioned whether anyone would sell the county land for 50 percent of his asking price. "If this was land acquired a year ago. they've got capital gains to consider." said Van Nest. He distributed a printed example of a $100,000 acquisition based on a 50 percent donation and a Green Acres application based on the full $100,000, That would be in the form of a $25,000 grant and $75,000 loan for 20 years at 2 percent The $50,000 not . really needed for the purchase could be invested in a certificate yielding as much or more than the Green Acres repayment VAN NEST SAID the conservation foundation currently is concluding legal work on two donations of land in the county and is "discussing" others; Realtor Herman Tolz has donated 10-15 acres of Lower Township bay front. Van Nest said, that are "environmentally sensitive" because migratory birds stop there to feed on Horseshoe crabs Van Nest described it as a "long strip at the foot of the sand dunes to the high tide mark " Tolz offered the land to the township last year, but was turned down And. Van Nest said, "an Atlantic City firm" is donating 30-40 acres of wellands"marsh grass in the Bidwell Creek area near Reeds Beach. Middle Township. He said it was possible that this donation could be used as "a credit" toward some county purchases "Now is the time to consider open space areas." said Van Nest "They can be acquired rather easily now and at little cost

Some of the huge flock, he added, "iden- ' tified this (transfer station) and establish- / „ ed this as a regular feeding facility." — < — ' About 1.000 gulls were visiting the depot -p-""** " \ each day when the MUA decided to ) ) discourage them. ~ I

Fothergill: Join to Boost TV Service VILLAS — Lower Township Mayor Robert Fothergill last week suggested that communities served by Group W Cable join together to improve and standardize service. * "We want, by virtue of sheer numbers, to make the best deal we can on behalf of our constituents." he said Fothergill said letters were mailed last week to municipalities served by Group W. asking that officials meet to compare service 7:30 p.m Sept 4inTownshp Hall The company has about 38,000 subscribers in Cape May. West Cape May. Cape May Point. Wildwood. North Wildwood. West Wildwood. Wildwood Crest, and Lower and Middle Townships. Group W currently negotiates with individual communities, and adjoining areas may not have the same service, he said. "We want to standardize things What they're offering to one place, might not be offered to another Together, we have more influence," he said A Dissatisfaction with cable is not the reason for this venture. Fothergill said "We're basically satisfied with Group W I don't have an ax to grind with them I haven't had that many complaints in the township hall." he said Group W has proposed a $6-million expansion which would increase to 18 the number of channels it offers to basic subscribers Currently. 12 basic channels are offered. GROUP W General Manager Peter Berkowitz said that his company already provides the same package for each com munity it serves "What we do in one community we do in all. All rates are the same Everyting we do foi one. we do for all." he said. Fothergill said he thinks Group W would benefit as well if the communities banded together The company would want to ensure that municipalities would keep its service. andcommunities would be more likely to sign long-term contracts if they were satisfied with the company, he said. While not agreeing fully with Fothergill. Berkowitz said his job depends on maintaining the company's base "The only concern that I have is getting nine signatures on nine pieces of paper." he said Fothergill. whose Erma home is out of Group W"s regular service area.- does not expect action to be taken until after Labor Day

New Horse Needs — New Name - A

( From Page 1 ) bloodhounds, named Sadie and Booker Riding Jan will be sheriff's office Harold Cooper of Green Creek, who completed a 10-week course at the Mounted Academy in Philadelphia. Plousis said Cooper. 36. a three-year veteran in the department, used to ride for recreation a few years ago. his wife said JAN WILL BE in a special corral adjacent to the zoo's two buffalo They eat the

same thing hay in the summer: hay and grain in the winter, according to Frank * Madajewski. assistant parks director The park first got a male buffalo named Olaf about 16 months ago Then it got a female and was going to have a name the buffalo contest, but the season passed and so parks officials just name her Falo 1 Olaf backwards' • Madajewski said Jan first was located near the zoo's burros, but "got rammy" and had to be moved

Sue The Horse-; (contest for ages 12 and under)Horse's Name: I V — ■ .My Namp- J Address: J Phone: Age: J ■ Cape May County Court House I Cape May Court House, N J. 08210 I ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ ■