It's not uncommon to see children feeding leftover bread to the flocks of ducks and geese at Lake Junaluska.

But the constant odor and soiled walking paths from the birds has prompted Lake residents to cry "fowl."

The Lake Junaluska Community Council, with support from the Junaluska Assembly, recently voted to apply a no feeding policy, which will start Sept. 17.

The problem is a result of a growing number of geese that refuse to migrate.

“We have more complaints about geese and their droppings than almost anything else we’re involved in,” said Buddy Young, director of Assembly Public Works at the lake. “People complain about how unsanitary and disgusting it is, and they’re right.”

Despite other efforts over the years to get rid of the problem, including buying a border collie to intimidate them, Lake officials decided to try the last option — banning people from feeding the birds.

In the long run, Young said, the decision will not only be for the greater good of the Lake, but also for the geese.

“We realize that most people believe in their hearts that they are helping these geese when they feed them, but they are not. It’s disrupting their migrating instincts and the bread they’re being fed is just not nutritionally sound," Young said.

To read the full story, click here or pick up a Wednesday, Sept. 5 copy of the Mountaineer.