In the movie Caddyshack, Bill Murray ruined a golf course trying to get rid of gophers. Landscapers at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania have a better idea. They've brought in bluebirds, swallows, and a border collie to manage the unwanted wildlife! The birds eat pesky insects, and the dog chases away a flock Canadian geese and any animals that would interfere with golf.
The birds were attracted by nest boxes that the staff installed. Golfers love seeing the birds at work, and they adore Charlie. Link
(Image credit: Michael Bryant)
The low-tech, wholly organic approaches to pest control are likely to draw little notice from the up to 40,000 golf fans who show up to check out Tiger Woods and other PGA luminaries at the show, though a closer look will reveal the birdhouses sited amid the fescue of the roughs.
Course regulars fondly swap stories about Charlie, the black-and-white canine called "part of the staff" by course superintendent John Gosselin for her help with geese and other critter interlopers - including foxes and, two summers ago, a coyote.
"She's just prepared to chase anything that moves," assistant superintendent Ben Little said. "Never actually caught anything, but she has fun with it."
The birds were attracted by nest boxes that the staff installed. Golfers love seeing the birds at work, and they adore Charlie. Link
(Image credit: Michael Bryant)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Introduced_species#Intentional_introductions
http://www.fws.gov/invasives/
OK, the border collie can stay, but only as long as she is spayed.
"Must Suppress, Desire to CHASE BALL!!!!>>>..."
http://takomagardener.typepad.com/tg/2007/01/organic_mosquit.html
Well, that's unfortunate..
@floatingk Close, it's Canada geese.