The Plantation at Ponte Vedra Beach welcomes new employee

Border collie Grace guards the grounds on geese patrol

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The Plantation at Ponte Vedra Beach a member of the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce recently welcomed its newest employee, Grace, a 3-year-old Border collie skilled in bird control.

Seeking humane methods of bird control for its pristine golf course, The Plantation enlisted the help of Grace to patrol the grounds with her handler, Assistant Superintendent Andy Brown.

Together, they encourage geese to relocate off the property. Border collies are frequently

 trained for bird control, as their natural profile is comparable to a wolf, which geese view as a dangerous predator. When given the command to approach a gaggle, Grace will mimic the

 stance of a wolf to alert the geese to leave. While Grace seeks to emulate a wolf, she has been

 trained to bring no harm to the birds.

In addition to joining Brown on the course, she has also joined the Brown family at home.

“Grace has become fast friends with Mae (a 3-year-old rescue Labrador-mix), and we are excited to have her as a new member to our family,” Brown said.

The Plantation is a residential neighborhood in Ponte Vedra Beach, with luxury amenities including a recently renovated golf course, private beach club, tennis facility, amenities park, fitness center and a clubhouse with dining and social activities for all ages.

For more information about The Plantation, visit www.theplantationpvb.com.