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How Resident Canada Geese Came to Be

A special article goose pollution

On the wings of an October north wind, you can hear the haunting call of the Canada Geese as they follow-the-leader, flying into a V formation. Climbing, airborne, to 3,000 feet, indeed as high as 9,000 feet, the mighty migrations of Canada Geese have begun, signaling the approach of winter. But not all Canada Geese join in the journey south. Some have taken up permanent, year-round residency here in Monroe County, and in cities and counties and countryside throughout Northeast United States.

Canada Geese have long been symbols of an isolated, northern wilderness. We have changed these wild places forever because of our land usage, which destroyed their breeding grounds. Mating for life, and raising their families together, the geese have discovered new man-made landscapes with open ponds and manicured grasses; an attractive alternative for raising their broods. Their presence has brought the wilderness to us.

"Brighton to shoo Canada geese", read the headline in the D&C, Saturday, Oct. 7. Responding to a small, vocal minority in the Lac de Ville Blvd. neighborhood, admirably the Town of Brighton established a task force, which is charged with researching and reviewing population control measures for areas within the community where there are "problem" geese.

The "problem" geese have done the unthinkable: they have pooped. As herbivores, or plant-eaters, geese prefer to graze on the succulent, short-grass lawns that humans grow and manage for their own enjoyment. Eating up to a pound of grass a day, geese defecate a substantial proportion of what they take in.

Goose droppings are a nuisance in certain areas. Athletic playing fields, sidewalks, beaches, back yards, when littered with goose feces, can literally become unusable by humans. Hosing down affected areas with power hoses is one way people remove goose droppings, but this solution obviously is not adaptable to all situations. Hence, the search for solutions.

Where resident Canada Geese populations have been a challenge in other communities a variety of techniques have been used. The most impressive effort to date is the formation of "GeesePeace", now a model nationwide, which was formed in Lake Barcroft, Virginia in the fall of 1998. GeesePeace is a partnership comprised of the Fairfax County government, school district, businesses, organizations, and individuals working together to create a humane (non-lethal) and holistic strategy to resolve conflicts with Canada Geese. The partnership has successfully instilled community spirit and cooperation, while developing multiple strategies to achieve an acceptable balance with Canada Geese.

What strategies CAN be implemented to reduce human-goose conflict? A variety of procedures are available from which to create site-specific strategies, including: exclusion (habitat modification); chemical repellents; scaring and harassment; egg addling.

The Humane Society of the United States has worked closely with organizers of GeesePeace, and has offered to help us here in Monroe County. Together we could create a county-wide consortium, modeling after GeesePeace. Together we could create the spirit of cooperation enjoyed in Fairfax County. And together we could develop multiple strategies for humane resolution of human-geese conflict. Let's create a partnership that will benefit all, including the wildlife.

Respectfully submitted,

Sandy Baker, President,

Monroe County Alliance for Wildlife Protection

P.O. Box 90854

Rochester, NY 14609 (716) 338-2247

The Alliance is working on an immunocontraception campaign to control the deer population in Durand Eastman Park

Town of Brighton: Report on Canada Geese Task Force Project

Rochester (in Monroe County), New York

for Humane Society of the US publication "Goose Tracks"

written by Jo Ann Arcarese

10/22/01

After several years of "goose poop" and goose traffic stoppage complaints, the Town of Brighton held a public hearing in August 2000 where angry tempers flared. Out of this hearing, a Task Force was formed; about 20 people signed up. The current Task Force consists of approximately 10 highly active people, representing the community, the Town Council, and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

The group has met monthly since October 2000 and its first step was to draft a Town Plan. It included four necessary steps: 1) a "no-feeding" ban; 2) habitat modification; 3) population stabilization via egg addling; and 4) nuisance abatement. Simultaneously, the application to the US Fish and Wildlife for a federal permit to addle eggs was submitted.

Since its inception, the Task Force has been mentored by GeesePeace in Fairfax, VA, the Humane Society of the U.S. and the NYS Dept of Environmental Conservation. The advice given by these mentors, as well as the committed actions of the Task Force members, made for a successful first year.

With the help of about 10 student interns (majoring in Conservation) from the Finger Lakes Community College in Canandaigua, NY, the Brighton Task Force was able to locate 31 Canada goose nests and addle 190 eggs during the month of April 2001. In May, the nests were re-visited and any remaining eggs were removed. At one suburban pond, 9 goslings, instead of the usual 30, were hatched.

The "no-feeding" ban has been helpful, but people need more education about the feeding of wildlife. Habitat modification has occurred: various ground covers, boulders, and grasses have been used to deter the geese from walking into and out of the waters. The Town contracted with Geese Control of NY and its border collie was very successful in discouraging the geese from "hanging out".

For further information on the Town of Brighton's success, please contact

Jo Ann Arcarese

Task Force Member phone: 716.442.7594

406 Eastbrooke Lane email: arcares@attglobal.net

Rochester, NY 14618

How resident Canada geese came to be

Special article on goose pollution