QUICK FACTS:

 

Goose roundups are traumatic and painful. Gassing is a horrible, painful, and excruciatingly long process that was never intended for geese. Geese have chemical receptors that are acutely sensitive to carbon dioxide. Their unique adaptations allow them to dabble for long periods underwater for food and also to fly at high altitudes where the air is thin. The gassing process simultaneously burns and freezes their lungs for up to 45 minutes before their so-called "humane" death. Gassing is totally inappropriate for geese who can hold their breath for prolonged periods. Although carbon dioxide is approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association, this gas is used to exterminate geese en masse because it is cheap. There is nothing remotely humane about it.

 

Roundups must be repeated each year because they don’t work. The Department of Natural Resources acknowledges the failure of goose roundups and reports that geese often return just weeks after a roundup has occurred. The department’s website states:  “Roundup is not an effective long-term solution for addressing Canada goose conflicts and has had limited success in reducing the number of goose complaints.” 

 

Within a few weeks of a roundup, new geese will replace those slaughtered.  Without changing what attracts geese to the location, such as abundant food, water, and safe harbor, geese will continue to flock there. If killing geese effectively reduced the population in the area, there would be no need to renew killing contracts and they would not be repeated on an annual basis.

 

Most food pantries won’t accept toxic goose flesh. Only a very small fraction of slaughtered geese are donated since the flesh of resident urban geese may be tainted with toxic pesticides and algae-cides.

 

Goose poop complaints can easily be remedied.  There are excellent community options for clean-up programs by volunteers and as a community service for minor offenses. An excellent fertilizer, goose droppings can also be processed, packaged, and sold to help fund humane goose management programs. Your community can also purchase a goose poop clean-up machine such as the Tow and Collect Mini ($4,495), which could be shared with adjacent communities to recoup some of the cost. 

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Humane alternatives to lethal goose roundups:

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• Restore habitat, plant taller grasses, and use FlightTurf*

• Create a "tolerance zone" for geese away from human activities

• Relocate young resident geese to areas with migratory geese so they learn to migrate, a strategy employed in Salt Lake City, Utah

• Purchase sweeper machines or hire employees to remove goose feces with minimal investment

• Combine sonic repellents and herd dogs

• Allow local predators to reduce goose populations naturally (raccoons, skunks, foxes, coyotes, crows, snakes, snapping turtles, hawks, eagles, and owls eat goose eggs and sometimes prey on goslings and/or adult geese)

• Try new egg oiling methods, like leaving one or two eggs un-oiled so geese won't reproduce again in the same season

• Rent or purchase a Goosinator, a remote-controlled decoy designed to harmlessly chase geese from your property

• *FlightTurf® is patented live turf grass seed technology that is designed to protect wildlife through environmentally sustainable, renewable, and kind methods and processes. FlightTurf reduces mowing, weeds, and attraction to wildlife in areas where wildlife is in harm’s way.

 

RESOURCES:

 

Quick facts and alternatives provided by: The Truth About Geese (idausa.org) - In Defense of Animals

 

The Best Way to Live in Harmony with Canada Geese - Friends of Animals

 

Canada Goose Habitat Modification Manual - Friends of Animals

 

Solving Problems with Canada Geese - Humane Society of The United States: 

 

Goose Habitat Modification & Canada Geese - Animal Alliance of Canada

 

Goose Cruelty - In Defense of Animals

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Canada Geese Round Up Fact Sheet - CT For Animals Education Fund

 

Protecting Geese Naturally

 

Humane Goose Deterrent Solutions

 

Friends of Animals Habitat Modification Manual

 

APLNJ wildlife conflict team 

 

APLNJ Geese Habitat Modification