Goose Management Programs and Control Strategies  by Garfield Hughes

  The DNRE – Wildlife Division has a program to give private landowners options to address their goose-human conflicts.  Goose-human conflict is when humans have complaints about geese.  Most complaints are from residents frustrated with goose droppings, usually on specific  sites, such as, lawns, docks, sidewalks, beaches, etc. Below are some Q & A’s from the DNRE program.What can you do to deter geese from your property?  First do not feed geese or other waterfowl as this will encourage them to stay and will also contribute to their becoming less afraid of humans.  If permitted by law in your area, hunting geese is a very effective and economical tool to control goose populations.  Scare devices can be a cost-effective way to repel geese when applied consistently as soon as geese arrive on your property and prior to nesting. There are many companies that sell scare devices such as shell crackers, screamers, bird alarms, motion detector accessories, and electronic noise systems.  There are also visual stimuli techniques used to scare geese such as balloons, plastic flags, and Mylar scare tape.  Physical barriers such as fences can be used to exclude geese from lawns during their molt.  Barrier fencing works most effectively when placed along shorelines.  Fencing may be as simple as two strands of twine at waters edge. Using a combination of several different control methods and changing tactics often to prevent geese from becoming conditioned to any one of them, often has the best results.Why are geese so often found on lakefront property?  Developments with manicured lawns, abundant water bodies, and refuge offer all the resources that geese need to thrive.  Geese are attracted to lawns mowed short, but are not attracted to taller grasses or other vegetation; therefore simple landscape alterations can be used to deter geese from your property.  For example, an unmowed 6 foot wide shoreline buffer of tall native grasses or a hedgerow 20 to 30 inches tall can discourage geese from visiting your lawn.  As a last resort you can contact the DNRE to inquire about goose nest destruction roundup. What is the nest and egg destruction program? This program addresses local resident goose populations on lakes that are located in specific geographic areas (Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne counties, Ann Arbor, Alpena, and Sault Ste. Marie)  and other designated sites that meet program criteria.  Landowners must first use alternative methods on their sites before being eligible to participate in nest destruction.  The nest destruction program allows the landowner to request a permit(no fee) to destroy nests and eggs, which then will encourage the geese to migrate north.  Applicants for this program must meet eligibility requirements and attend training.  How can landowners get involved in the nest destruction program?  Landowners must first use alternative methods to address goose problems on their site before being eligible to participate in nest destruction.  Another requirement for this program is a signed petition from 70% of the lakefront property owners.  If  landowners are still having problems after using  a variety of control methods(including nest destruction), they may request a permit to have the geese on their lake site rounded up and transported to designated release sites.  Most people hire a licensed animal control company to remove the birds.  Round up is not an effective long-term solution.   Round up only provides a short term  because adult geese instinctively return to previous breeding sites.  It does provide property owners temporary relief, but the same or different birds move back into the area with a short time. Most sites will be charged a non-refundable $200 DNRE permit fee per sit($100 for single family residences.  In addition there are the contractor costs to roundup, capture and relocate the birds.  THE ASSOCIATION IS SEEKING A VOLUNTEER TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE OUR ELIGIBLITY FOR THE NEST AND EGG DESTRUCTION PROGRAM.  AS A COMMUNITY WE HAVE ALL TRIED SEVERAL OF THE ALTERNATIVE DETERENTS :  Balloons, Flags, noise makers, motion detectors, string fences, animal decoys, etc., HOWEVER THE PROBLEM GETS WORSE EACH YEAR.  The goose population this year was tremendous as well as the droppings.  IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO WALK ON MOST LAKEFRONT LAWNS AND IMPOSSIBLE TO AVOID GOOSE DROPPINGS AT THE PAVILION.  Everyone complains about the problem and we have now presented a program of the DNRE that offers a probable solution to controlling this problem;  who will take the lead and further investigate this program to benefit the community.  Please contact Garfield Hughes 313 715- 4492 , Gary Gibson 989 397-2133, or Linda Davis 989 683-3381 to volunteer for this assignment.