USDA's "MANAGEMENT OF CANADA GOOSE NESTING"

8/2/2019 USDA's "MANAGEMENT OF CANADA GOOSE NESTING"

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Protecting PeopleProtecting AgricultureProtecting Wildlife

Wildlife Services

United States Department of AgricultureAnimal and Plant Health Inspection Service

MANAGEMENT OF CANADA GOOSE NESTING

Canada geese are one of the most readily recognizedbirds in the United States, and they are enjoyedby birdwatchers, sportsmen and women, outdoorenthusiasts and citizens. However, in some areas,Canada geese can damageproperty, impact agriculture,pose disease threats,and present public safetyproblems. An integrateddamage managementprogram which includes avariety of safe, practical, andeffective techniques usuallyprovides the best relief fromCanada goose damage.The integrated approachshould include banning thefeeding of waterfowl, habitatmodication, harassment,

control of nesting, and in some cases, legal sportharvest (goose hunting), and humanely implementedremoval of geese. The purpose of this documentis to describe the techniques and methods

associated with management of Canada goosenesting. The information is applicable to all areasof the lower 48 states where resident populationCanada geese occur. For additional State-specic

recommendations and guidance on Canada goosedamage management methods, contact theAPHISWildlife Services (WS) ofce in your State or call1-866-4USDAWS.

Canada Goose Populations

Two behaviorally distinct types of goose populations

exist in most parts of the country: resident andmigratory. Resident, or non-migratory Canada geese,are those that nest within the lower 48 states and theDistrict of Columbia during March-June, or that residethere during the months of April-August. However,some resident geese will migrate short distancesduring the summer prior to molting while others maymigrate during the fall/winter depending upon the

severity of the weather. There are an estimated3.6 million resident Canada geese in North America

(2008). Migratory Canada geese move betweenbreeding grounds in Canada and overwintering areasin the US, but do not nest in the lower 48 states.

Canada Goose Nesting

The Basics

Resident Canada geeseare well-adapted to humandominated landscapes, andthey nest in a wide variety oflocales some in very closeproximity to people. Goosenests occur near sidewalksand entryways of homes andother buildings, adjacent

to paths and roadways, andon rooftops and porches. They are also found inmore traditional areas, including parks, farmlands,and other open space. The resident goose nestingseason occurs as early as late February through

mid-May, with most eggs hatching during early May.Both birds of the pair attend the nest. Once all eggshave been laid (approximately 1 egg per day is laidwith 2-12 eggs in a complete clutch and 5 eggsas the average), incubation begins and the materemains close by. Eggs are incubated for 28 days.In southern states, goose nesting may occur slightlyearlier than in northern areas. As the nesting seasonpasses, geese gather into ocks and congregate in

open areas for the molting period. During the moltresident geese lose their ight feathers and remain

ightless during mid-June to early July. Molting geese

generally prefer areas that provide food (grass orcrops) and water. During this time, the goslings arealso ightless since they have not yet developed their

adult feathers that will enable them to y.

Canada Geese

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landowners must continue to comply with Stateand local laws. Refer to the State Wildlife AgencyContacts and Information on Resident Canada GooseNest and Egg Destruction on the FWS website todetermine if your State participates in the programand if an additional State permit is required in yourarea.

Management of Nesting Can Reduce Goose-

Related Problems

Management of Canada goose nesting throughdestruction of nests and eggs, or through treatmentof eggs, can ease damage problems. When geeseare aggressively defending nests near doorways,on playgrounds, at schools, and other high-trafc

areas, destruction of the nest and eggs along withnesting area habitat modications

can sometimes cause the geese tomove elsewhere. Treatment of gooseeggs so that they do not hatch willreduce or eliminate the presence ofgoslings. This will reduce goose fecesaccumulations and other damagesuch as overgrazing of lawns andcrop depredation. Control of goosenesting will increase the effectivenessof nonlethal methods, especially use

of noise-making devices, since adultgeese that are not tending to ightless goslings

are more inclined to leave an area when they areharassed.

Although nest and egg treatment/destruction isuseful to curb population growth at a local scale, itshould not be relied upon for immediate populationreductions. Geese are long-lived birds (10-25 yearsin the wild) and they have a single, dened nesting

season. Research indicates that elimination of

nesting in a large scale regional effort would haveto be conducted over many years before populationstabilization would even occur. Regardless,management of goose nesting can be an importantpart of an overall integrated management approach toliving with Canada geese in your community.

Legal Status and Authorities

The Canada goose is a migratory bird species that isafforded the protections of the Migratory Bird Treaty

Act, Federal regulations, and State laws. Handlingand lethal management of Canada geese fordamage management purposes, such as capturingand euthanizing birds, or shooting birds outside ofestablished hunting seasons, require depredationpermit(s). However, there are exibilities in the

regulations that permit management of residentCanada geese in order to limit damage, especiallywhen associated with human health and safety andagriculture. One such provision is the residentCanada Goose Nest and Egg Depredation Order,issued by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)

in 2006 (50 CFR 21.50). The Depredation Orderwas developed after the FWS,in cooperation with APHIS WS,completed an environmentalimpact statement (EIS) for themanagement of resident Canadageese. Wildlife ServicesRecord of Decision for that EISsupports a preferred alternative ofintegrated damage managementand population control. TheDepredation Order authorizes

landowners and local governmentswho register with the FWS to destroy resident Canadagoose nests and eggs on their property from March1-June 30, when necessary, to resolve or preventinjury to people, property, agricultural crops, or otherinterests.

In order to conduct these activities, landowners mustregister online anytime between January 1 and June30 of the year in which the activity will take place(https://epermits.fws.gov/eRCGR). After registering,

landowners can print conrmation of their registrationand immediately begin their nest treatment activities.The registration must be renewed annually, followingsubmission of an annual report of the number ofnests with eggs destroyed. There is no fee for theregistration. The process requires the applicationof appropriate nonlethal methods to minimize theextent to which eggs must be destroyed. Although aFederal permit is no longer required for this process,

United States Department of AgricultureAnimal and Plant Health Inspection Service 2

Canada Geese Nesting
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Timing of Canada Goose Egg Treatment

Initial goose nest searches should occur during Marchand April, depending on your location: Southern US(March 10-25), Mid latitudes (March 25-April 10),and Northern US (April 10-25). The best option isto harass geese before they set up a nest; however,if nests have already been established, the mostefcient time to treat eggs is after the entire clutch is

laid and incubation has started. Warm eggs in thenest indicate that incubation has started and that alleggs have been laid. At least 2-3 subsequent nestvisits are usually required to ensure that all eggs andrenest attempts are treated. The nal nest search/

egg treatment typically occurs during early-mid May.Treatment of goose eggs in the cooler early morning

hours is recommended to reduce stress on the birds.

Finding and Approaching the Nest

In natural areas, look for goose nests near water,particularly on islands and peninsulas, as well asalong shorelines. Elsewhere, nests occur wherethere is a good view of the surrounding area withrelative security from nest predators. The adultgoose pair remains together throughout the nestingseason. A single goose that appears to be patrollingan area may indicate that a nest is in the vicinity.

As the hatching date nears, the incubating goosewill be reluctant to leave the eggs, and will atten

out and extend the neck to hide when the nest isapproached. In searching for the nest, it is usefulto key in on the gooses distinctly-colored head withhighly contrasting cheek patch. Otherwise, the birdsdrab coloration easily blends into the surroundingenvironment.

The behavior of nesting geese to humans variestremendously. Some nesting geese readily ee when

approached by humans whereas other geese willstand their ground to defend the nest; some geesewill actually attack approaching humans by running orying at them. Goose behavior during nest defense

consists of geese standing erect and/or spreadingtheir wings to make themselves appear larger whileloudly hissing. The defense behavior can be daunting.

Attacking geese will often try to strike their perceivednest predators with their wings and/or will bite. The

male or gander, which is usually the bird standingguard near the nest (as opposed to the incubatinggoose) is the bird most likely to attack. As a generalrule, geese in rural or natural settings are less likelyto attack humans than geese in suburban or urbanhabitats. When geese are habituated to people andhave little fear of them, they often attack viciously. Fothese reasons, goose nests should be approachedcarefully. It is best to conduct these activities with apartner. Some individuals experienced in treatinggoose nests use a life jacket, boat paddle, or trashcan lid to deect goose attacks at nest sites.

Nest defense behavior by Canada geese isencountered after the nest is located and duringthe process of moving the adult goose off the nest.

Geese must be moved to effectively treat the eggs.

Geese may naturally leave the area as you approachthe nest, or you may need to encourage the geese toback away from the nest with slow steady pressurefrom a broom, canoe/kayak paddle, or a branch.

Geese tend to be increasingly tenacious to the nest/eggs as the hatching date nears. Approach the nestin a manner that creates an escape route for thegeese.


Nest Management is Best Done by a Team of Two People--

One To Treat The Eggs and One To Keep The Geese Away

From The Nest


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Canada Goose Nesting Management

Approaches

Two general approaches exist for goose nestingcontrol, and both are allowed under the Depredation

Order: destruction and treatment. The selectionof approaches will depend on a number of factors,including the location of the nest, overall number ofnests, logistics, and capabilities/preferences of theindividual conducting the work. It typically takes nomore than 5 minutes to destroy or treat a goose nest.In many cases, when a nest is destroyed, geese mayrenest in the same or nearby area. For this reason,periodically conduct searches of the property tolocate and destroy/treat newly-found nests. Similarly,geese return to traditional nest sites and areas in

subsequent years. It is likely that you will need tocontinue to monitor and treat goose nests on anongoing basis.

Physical Destruction of Nests and Eggs

Where goose nests are located in very close proximityto people, near areas of high trafc, and in situations

where geese are particularly aggressive, landownersmay desire to completely destroy and remove the

nest and modify the area to deter renesting attempts.This method is applicable where nests occur onrooftops, sidewalks, doorsteps, entryways, enclosedcourtyards, picnic areas, playgrounds, and near pathsand roadways. Destroyed nest material and eggscan be left in the eld, buried on site, incinerated, or

placed in outgoing trash, in accordance with localordinances. The nest location should be clearedof all nest materials and can be covered with

objects (overturned garbage can, wood, branches,etc.) so that its attractiveness as a nesting area isdiminished. Destruction and removal of the nest isintended to cause the pair of geese to abandon thearea. However, there are times when the pair does

not leave and instead initiates a new nest nearby. Ifthis occurs, destruction of the new nest is necessary.Integrated harassment activities after nest destructionmay provide further reinforcement for the geese toleave the area altogether.

Three Egg Treatment Techniques

Three egg treatment techniques authorized bythe Depredation Order are oiling, puncturing, andshaking and are most useful when the presence

of adult geese can be tolerated but goslings arenot desired. Treated eggs remain in the nest, andgeese will continue to tend to the nest and incubatethe eggs. Be careful not to handle treated eggs insubsequent visits to the nests since eggs becomeputrid. Contents of eggs build up with gas and mayburst if they are disturbed or knocked together. Nestsites should be marked with agging tape or other

material to facilitate follow-up visits and reduce timespent having to search for previously-treated nests.When eggs fail to hatch, the adult geese graduallycease incubation and will leave the immediate area

as the time to molt approaches. This can be hastenedtoward the end of the nesting season (May) throughuse of harassment activities. Destroyed nest materialand eggs may be left in the eld or disposed of by

burial, incineration, or placement in outgoing trash, inaccordance with local ordinances.


Do Not Move Goose Nests

Relocation of goose nests from one spot toanother is ineffective, since the adult geese donot recognize the nest in a new location as theirown. The nest will be abandoned, the exposedeggs will die or be predated, and the adult pair

will establish a new nest in the original or nearbylocation. Moving nests is not an authorizedactivity under the Depredation Order for thesereasons.

Essential Tools

The following materials are needed to destroyor treat goose nests and eggs: data sheet,

pen/pencil, state permit (if necessary), FWSregistration document (includes the registrationnumber, individuals permitted to conductwork, and the location), treatment equipment(puncturing tool, corn oil, sprayer, cloth, rake,shovel, permanent marker to mark the eggs ifoiling is the method used), and latex gloves (ifdesired).


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In general, treatment should commence onceincubation has begun. If the eggs feel cool to thetouch, incubation has not commenced and additionaleggs will be laid. In that situation, it is best to markthe nest location and revisit the nest within the nextweek to initiate treatment. On larger propertieswith multiple nests, it might be useful to initiate eggtreatment as soon as eggs are found.

OilingUse 100% food-grade corn oil. The oil blocksthe pores in the eggs shell, and prevents furtherdevelopment of the contents. Some States require apesticide license to use this method, so check Stateregulations before proceeding. Prior to oiling, remove

the eggs from the nest and mark each egg with apermanent marker on both sides. For best results,coat the entire egg with a thin layer of oil and place itback in the nest. Oil may be applied by a number ofmethods:

Dip each egg in oil and wipe to remove excess

Wipe the eggs with a cloth soaked in oil

Spray oil on each egg with a hand-held pumpaction sprayer

Spray oil on each egg with a pressurizedbackpack sprayer

PuncturingIt is not necessary to mark the eggsto be punctured; however, an individual may preferto mark the eggs so they do not need to be handledduring subsequent visits. To puncture the egg, holdit securely in your hand, braced against the ground.Insert a long, thin metal probe into the pointed endof the egg. Best results are attained by placing slowsteady pressure. Once the probe passes through

the shell, place its tip against the inside of the shell,and swirl with a circular motion. The puncturing toolmay be an awl, ice pick, chicken/turkey basting tools,a turkey lacer, or any sturdy, thin metal probe. It isadvisable to connect the tool to a lanyard or stringwith a piece of bright-colored agging tape attached to

assist in keeping track of it while you are working andtraveling from nest to nest.


When to Treat Eggs

In general, treatment should commence onceincubation has begun. If the eggs feel cool tothe touch, incubation has not commenced andadditional eggs will be laid. In that situation, it isbest to mark the nest location and revisit thenest within the next week to initiate treatment.On larger properties with multiple nests, it mightbe useful to initiate egg treatment as soon aseggs are found.

Mark Eggs Prior to Treatment

Two small marks on opposite sides of the eggs

shell (indelible marker) will indicate which eggshave been treated. This will save time andminimize unnecessary handling of treated eggsduring future visits.

One Method of Oil Application to Canada

Goose Eggs


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Shaking/AddlingRemove all eggs and placethem on the ground near the nest. Mark one egg,shake it, put the shaken egg back in the nest andrepeat the process until all of the eggs have beenshaken. Shake each egg forcefully, one at a time,for 5-10 minutes, and place it back in the nest. Thistechnique is very time consuming and requires a lotof physical effort although some homeowners preferit if they have only one nest with a few eggs, and ifthey do not want to deal with the potential messinessof puncturing and oiling. However, it is difcult to

determine with certainty when the egg is shakenenough. This treatment is the most problematic dueto the time and effort required, and the uncertainty ofits effectiveness.

Record-Keeping

Note-taking and record-keeping should be doneaway from the nest and immediately after the workat each nest is conducted. This will ensure accuracyin recording the number of nests and eggs and willincrease safety/reduce stress. Maintain records of

your activities and submit the annual report to theFWS that identies the number of nests with eggs

destroyed or treated, by month, and county. Thisreport is required by October 31 each year, evenif no nests or eggs were handled. Individuals areencouraged to report their activities soon after theyhave completed nest work activities. The annualreport must be submitted electronically to the FWSby going back to the registration website and entering

the report data. Comply with your States reportingrequirements and maintain your records in a safelocation. Keep records of nest locations for your futureuse, since geese will frequently nest in traditionallocations in subsequent years.

Egg Aging Techniques

Although the Nest and Egg Depredation Order allowstreatment at any point during the 28 day incubationperiod, some individuals may prefer to restrict eggtreatment to the rst 14 days of incubation. The

Canada goose egg oat test can be used as a guide

to determine the age of the incubating eggs. Belowis a diagram that illustrates how eggs will act in waterat different developmental stages, counting from the

beginning of incubation (not from laying). Be sureyou have a container of water with enough room andenough water so that eggs can oat freely. At many

sites, you can ll a bucket from the pond next to the

nest but at some sites you may need to bring waterwith you. Place a minimum of two or three eggs inthe water and use the diagram to determine their age.

Remove eggsfrom the waterand proceedbased on theresults. If you

intend to oilthe eggs, it isrecommendedthat you wipethe eggsdry with anabsorbent clothbefore oiling orwait until thenext day (afterthe egg oat

test) to ensurethat the egg iscompletely dry.

Goslings

In some areas where nests and eggs have beentreated on one property, goslings may suddenlyappear during May and June. This occurswhen goslings walk in from adjacent propertieswhere nests and eggs have not been treated,especially where properties are connected bystream corridors or other greenways. This can bemanaged in future years by coordinating with yourneighbors to treat eggs on multiple properties ina community-based approach. Also, fencing canbe installed to control movements of goslings andmolting geese, since they cannot y.


Egg is Floating and is Nearingits Hatching Date


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Egg Float Test Diagram

Days of incubation:

Egg 1: 0-3 days

Egg 2: 4-8 days

Egg 3: 9-13 days

Egg 4: 14-18 days

Egg 5: 19-23 days

Egg 6: 24-27 days

This diagram depicts a cross-section through a largecontainer of water with eggs of various ages oating

inside. The line across the container represents thewater level. Eggs at the start of incubation (number1 on the left), generally lie on the bottom of thecontainer, clearly not oating. Thirteen days afterincubation has started, eggs usually turn upright inthe water (as number 3 on the Chart shows) but willremain at the bottom of the container. Around 14 to18 days of incubation, most eggs will begin oating

near the top of the water, although they may not breakthe surface of the water.

OvoControl G

An additional goose reproduction managementmethod involves the use of OvoControl G toreduce the hatchability of eggs. It was developedby scientists at the US Department of AgriculturesWildlife Services National Wildlife Research Center(NWRC) and Innolytics, LLC. The active ingredient,nicarbazin, was originally used as a drug to controldisease in chickens and has now been developed

for hatch control technology in resident Canada geeseand other birds. OvoControl G interferes with thedevelopment of the vitelline membrane separatingthe egg white and yolk. This membrane is vital tothe viability of the egg and without it the egg cannotdevelop or hatch. When OvoControl G is fed toCanada geese for the duration of their breeding seaso(8-10 weeks total), the nicarbazin effectively reducesthe hatching success of eggs. When nicarbazinis withdrawn from the diet, egg production andhatchability return to normal within a few days.

Because OvoControl G is regulated by the USEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA) and isa restricted use chemical, only licensed wildlifespecialists or pest control operators are permitted to

buy and use OvoControl G. Additionally, each Statemust register for, and have approved, the use of thisproduct on Canada geese. Several states currentlyprohibit the use of fertility drugs in wildlife. Further, adepredation permit issued by FWS is necessary priorto use of the product. The bread-like bait is similarin shape and size to a large corn kernel and can bedistributed with broadcast bait feeders or by hand.Once OvoControl G is digested and absorbed bythe goose, it is no longer biologically available to asecondary species and is not harmful to geese, birds,other waterfowl, or people. While OvoControl G ma

reduce hatching rates, it has no effect on the currentnumber of adult or juvenile resident geese. In additionnot all geese may consume the bait. Another concernmay be associated with providing food/ bait overseveral weeks in areas where this could exacerbatesafety problems and increase the number of birdsalready utilizing the area (near roadways, at airports,etc.). In this manner, OvoControl G is contrary tothe integrated wildlife damage management approachbecause this method involves the feeding of wildlifeand therefore may attract some nontarget species tothe area who also consume the bait. Depending onwhere OvoControl G is purchased, the cost of thisprogram is approximately $12.00/goose/season.

Additional Information

For more information, visit the Web site at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife_damage/ or contact WS/APHIS/USDAat 4700 River Road, Unit 87, Riverdale, MD 20737. Thetelephone number is (301) 734-7921.

http://www.fws.gov/forms/3-200-13.pdfhttp://www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife_damage/http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife_damage/http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife_damage/http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife_damage/http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife_damage/http://www.fws.gov/forms/3-200-13.pdf


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To le a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Ofce of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue,SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Mention of companies or commercial products does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the USDA over others not mentioned. The USDA neither guaranteesnor warrants the standard of any product mentioned. Product names are mentioned solely to report factually on available data and to provide specic information.


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