For the week of November 13 - 19, 2002

Golden Eagle hopes to end wildlife woes

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By GREG STAHL
Express Staff Writer

For several winters, the Golden Eagle subdivisions near Greenhorn Gulch have been struggling with wintering deer and elk. Conflicts, particularly with wintering elk, have spurred controversy.

But homeowners in the area are hoping the problems are now part of the past.

The homeowners association at Golden Eagle has decided not to haze wintering elk, as was done last winter when the ungulates began eating ornamental vegetation, association board member Susan McBryant said.

Placement of fake coyotes at Golden Eagle near Greenhorn Gulch is an apparent attempt to scare away geese that have moved to the area’s numerous artificial ponds. Express photo by Willy Cook

 

The idea this winter will be to feed the elk in Timber Gulch and lure them away from the new subdivisions. The elk were fed in Timber Gulch historically.

Idaho Department of Fish and Game Conservation Officer Lee Garwood said only time will tell if the tactic will work.

"This is a pretty good start on winter, so we’ll see what the next couple of months bring," he said. "The agency told Golden Eagle there would be no chasing of elk with snow machines this year."

Garwood said that artificial coyotes recently placed in the subdivision appear to be an attempt to scare away geese, which are notorious for smearing lawns with excrement. However, the coyotes will only work if they are frequently moved, Garwood said.

"It’s like any scare device," he said. "You have to move it around every couple of days or it just becomes part of the background scenery."

McBryant added that the association did not install the artificial coyotes and that they are probably the work of private homeowners, she said.

Garwood said it is not surprising that The Golden Eagle subdivisions have an abundance of geese.

"Build it and they will come," he said, referring to the impressive number of artificial ponds and lakes in the area. "If you build a pond in this country, you will have some geese living there."

 

The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.