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Kingdom: Animalia
Canada Goose |
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Description
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Author: Lawson Dennis Site created by: Rachael McCormick Site Maintained by: Dr. Mark Wallace |
Management Management objectives include control of production, distribution of populations, reduction of nuisance effects, and equitable harvest distribution among hunters (Shultz, et. al., 1988). Production can be increased by establishing new populations, improving breeding habitat, and establishing refuges (Shultz, et. al., 1988). Nuisance problems include crop damage in rural areas, and manure deposition in urban and suburban areas. Goose defecation is considered a potential health problem and aesthetically undesirable (Conover, 1985). Urban and suburban nuisance problem are largely caused by man-made conditions created by the establishment and maintenance of well watered and fertilized grasses in lawns, parks, and golf courses (Conover and Chasko, 1985). The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service relocates geese (to redistribute populations), but this approach is labor intensive and only a temporary fix since geese tend to return to their original locations (Conover, 1985). A possible alternative to relocation is aversive conditioning using chemicals that cause the birds to become sick temporarily without permanently harming them (Conover, 1985). This strategy, too, is designed to redistribute animals, and may only relocate the problem. The chemicals can be sprayed directly on a food source; however human consumption of poisoned geese is a concern (Conover, 1985). Nuisance can also be reduced by increasing harvest. Local geese tend to be more vulnerable to hunting than migratory geese (Lindberg and Malecki, 1994). Thus opening day for hunting season can be adjusted forward if more harvest of local geese is desirable, or it can be adjusted back if harvesting fewer local geese (proportionally more migratory geese) is desired. Hunting is regulated by bag limit and length of season (Bellrose 1980, 61). Allowable harvest for a hunting season is based on population surplus (Bellrose 1980, 59), where “surplus” is simply the number of geese over and above the desired population (Bellrose 1980, 59). The desired population is generally conceived of as the number of breeders necessary to maintain population numbers at or below carrying capacity (Bellrose 1980, 59). The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 requires limits be placed on the hunting, capture, and transportation of migratory birds (DOE Office of Environmental Policy and Guidance 2001, paragraph 3)
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