NEW CUMBERLAND — New Cumberland Council is hoping officials with the U.S. Department of Agriculture can assist in alleviating the community of its growing goose population.

As part of their meeting Monday, council members agreed to enter into an agreement with the USDA’s Wildlife Services, at a cost of $7,996 for a one-year contract, to have federal employees remove the flocks of Canada geese from the city.

Mayor Will White explained the city had reached out to the USDA after hearing representatives were going to be in the area.

“We heard they were going to come through New Cumberland and take care of all these geese,” he said, explaining a crew performed a “drive by” of the city, collecting 55 birds. “They had a trailer, and the trailer has a fence.”

The sweep had particular focus on the area around the field near the New Cumberland Volunteer Fire Department, officials noted.

White said he then learned the goose removal is part of a program offered through the USDA, on a contractual basis, and the crews routinely are in Hancock County because of already existing agreements with Ergon and Mountaineer Casino to remove geese from their properties.

Councilmember Penny Spilecki said, while the attention by the fire department is appreciated, there are flocks of geese taking up residency in several areas of the city, pointing out a population near the baseball field, with others noting some near the Sparkle grocery store which often can be seen holding up traffic as they cross state Route 2.

“They’re everywhere,” she said. “It’s not just the fire field.”

Officials reported efforts in the past have offered temporary relief, but admitted some action is needed.

“They just keep coming,” Councilmember Missy Perkins said.

City Solicitor Kevin Pearl explained the contractual amount listed in the agreement is the maximum amount to be paid, adding the program is available only if funding is allocated to the USDA by Congress as part of its budgetary process.