The MARC ballfields in the Municipality of Lunenburg have gone to the birds.
Crows have caused significant damage to one field and minor damage to the two others by digging up grass to eat grubs.
The issue started two summers ago and the municipality has tried using aeration and scare crows but they weren’t effective.
Recreation Director, Trudy Payne, says research shows the issue started due to a lack of snow and dry summers.
“It’s really from a lack of moisture in the ground which causes these grubs to migrate closer to the surface, where it’s damper,” says Payne.
“It then makes them to be more detectable by predators like crows.”
The municipality is taking action and consulting an expert to determine when to apply pesticides.
Payne says it means ballfield #2 will be closed for the season to make necessary repairs.
“We are looking at closing that, applying the pesticide and trying to fix that ballfield so that it’s ready for next year’s use,” says Payne.
“We’ll be focusing on ballfield #1 and #3 as well to ensure we have all three ballfields for next year.”
They have set aside $20,000 in their capital budget for the repairs.
Reported by: Nick Yorston
Twitter: @NickYorston
E-mail: yorston.nick@radioabl.ca
