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Wildlife Biologist on Staff |
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Resident Canada Goose(Branta Canadensis) The resident Canada goose has established local, non-migratory populations throughout southwest Virginia. At one time the Canada goose was just a frequent visitor during the winter in their migratory route. Now they have taken up permanent residence in local lakes and ponds, parks, and golf courses. These local goose populations can damage and destroy agricultural crops and pose social problems in urban areas by nesting, feeding and defecating in the landscapes and lawns. Their droppings become unacceptable to people that frequent local parks and golf courses. There is a constant debate over the health issues with these droppings, in that there is not a direct link to any disease that can be contracted directly from them, but may lead to disease or parasite growth in the water where people swim. The droppings are unsightly and will gather on the shoes of the individuals walking around the parks or golf course greens. The defensive nature of nesting geese poses a threat to people that may get to close. The geese will often defend their nest by chasing anybody away that may threaten it. Some local lakes, parks, and golf courses have posted bans with fines on feeding the resident geese to help prevent people from being discouraged from using them. If you need resident Canada goose removal services or a consultation, Blue Ridge Wildlife Management, LLC is here to help you. Please Contact Us to help solve your problem.
Identification
Description:Resident geese are non-migratory. They do not summer in the north (Canada) and winter in the south (Mexico).Body Size:
Nest:15"-44" in radius, 4" deep, 10" where eggs are laid, lined with downy feathers. Found on the ground usually close to water.Eggs:Dull white to cream white. Twice as large as a chicken egg.Young:
Feather Color:Long black neck and head with large white cheek patches, brown gray body, black tail, feet and bill.Voice & Sounds:Musical Honking. Hiss and will chase danger away.
ReproductionTime of Year: Late winter.Lay Eggs: March - June Incubation: 25-28 Days Young Born: April - July Average Reproductive Age: 1-2 Years Weaning: 1 Year Other: Mates for Life
Other InformationHabitat:Adaptable to any environment. Usually any area with suitable food, water and cover.Home:Ponds, lakes, rivers, streams and agricultural areas.Home Range:2-25 MilesFood:Feed mostly in the early morning and late afternoon. Graze on grasses, roots, seeds pond weeds, cattails, clovers, agricultural crops and leaves.Average Life Span:Up to 23 years in the wild and 33 years in captivity.
Trapping & Removal TechniquesThere are three techniques that can be effective in removing resident Canada geese, habitat modification, physical removal and harassment. A permit through U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services is needed in order for anybody to remove Canada geese because they are still considered a migratory bird. Federal law prohibits individuals from possessing, transporting or handling migratory birds without a permit. The most common technique used in physically removing geese is a round-up. Round-ups are typically done in June or July when the geese are in their summer molt. At this time the geese cannot fly and will congregate in large numbers close to water to easily escape danger. Their inability to fly makes capture into funnel like traps easy. The second method is repellants or harassment. Harassment is the first method that must be tried before actual physical removal can be used. There are a number of ways to harass geese, but the most effective is a trained dog that patrols the area and that will chase the geese away. Habitat modification can be very effective if the end result makes the areas that the geese reside in less desirable to them for food and nesting. For more information or a consultation on resident Canada goose removal, please Contact Us so that we can give you the information you need that best fits your problem.
Damage and Damaged AreasUrban parks, residential landscapes, and golf courses offer the ideal habitat for the geese to reside. The droppings from the geese become a problem when several geese are residing for a long period of time. The droppings make use of the parks, yards, and golf courses less desirable to the individuals that use them. The droppings are unsightly and will gather on the shoes of the individuals walking around these areas.
Health ConcernsWhile there is considerable debate over the health threat of resident Canada geese, as to the disease to human contact with goose droppings, it would be expected to increase with increased goose populations. |
