The Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) is one of the largest native wild waterfowl species, weighing between 6 and 13 pounds and measuring 22-48 inches. It is easily recognized by its black head, bill, and neck that contrast strikingly with a pale gray breast. The distinct white cheek patch, or chinstrap, 
that covers the throat is a characteristic field mark. The birds are gray-brown to dark brown on the back and wings and white on the belly; they have a black rump and tail feathers that are separated by a narrow but distinct band of white feathers.
Goose problems in urban and suburban areas are primarily caused by giant Canada geese, which are probably the most adaptable of all waterfowl. If left undisturbed, these geese will readily establish nesting territories on ponds in residential yards, golf courses, condominium complexes, city parks, or on farms. Most people will readily welcome a pair of geese on a pond. They can soon turn from pet to pest, however. A pair of geese can, in 5 to 7 years, easily become 50 to 100 birds that are fouling ponds and surrounding yards and damaging landscaping, gardens, and golf courses. Defense of nests or young by geese can result in injuries to people who come too close.
Habitat and Diet: nuisance Canada geese are found in a variety of habitats that are located near water bodies, such as lakes, marshes, ponds, reservoirs, and rivers. Geese also are attracted to open grassy areas like lawns, parks, golf courses, athletic fields, and airports, as well as agricultural fields. These habitats provide ample food in the form of aquatic plants, seeds, clovers, cultivated grains, and lawn grass. When inland freshwater areas freeze geese concentrate in the bays and inlets as well as crop fields.
Canada goose numbers have increased substantially over the last 50 years. This increase is due to the ability of geese to adapt to man’s landscaping practices. The multitude of new ponds, lakeside lawns, golf courses, and athletic fields created since the 1950s have resulted in a large expansion of the goose population. These areas provide the right combination of water, cover, and grazing sites for geese.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reports 3.5 million resident Canada geese in the United States. As a federally protected bird most cases of problem geese must be dealt with during state hunting season or require the landowner to get a federal depreciation permit. Some cases may only require a NYS DEC depreciation permit.
Summary of Goose Damage
Common landscaping practices of maintaining open areas of short grass, often near bodies of water, have contributed to resident Canada goose populations becoming established in many suburban and urban areas around the state. Abundant habitat availability, combined with the loss of natural predators, absence of hunting in many areas, and free hand-outs
from people, have led to a significant increase in the resident Canada goose population in New York. Resident geese have been known to negatively impact almost every area of civilization: agricultural crops, human health and safety issues, and damage residential, swimming and drinking water quality commercial, and public property, goose/aircraft collisions, traffic hazards, slipping on goose droppings, and being attacked by aggressive geese are all problems resulting from pest Canada geese.
Agriculture
Canada geese have benefited from agriculture more than any other waterfowl species. Agricultural damage caused by Canada geese includes the grazing and trampling of grain crops, pastures, and spring seedlings. Virtually all agriculture grain crops can be eaten by geese. Crops typically affected are alfalfa, barley, corn, soybeans, wheat, rye, and oats. Grazing can result in reduced crop yields and in some instances the loss of an entire crop. While damage to crops by geese, has been difficult to quantify, surveys of agricultural producers indicate that it may be severe in some areas, resulting in substantial economic losses. One study reported $6 to 10 million in annual damage to swath grains by geese. Damage probably is similar in the western NY, but the economic impact has not been well documented and totals may be much greater. In another case, damage by Canada geese to commercial crops showed that goose damage reduced yields by 25%.
In addition, the transmission of pathogens (micro-organisms that can cause disease or illness) from geese to livestock, the possible affects of goose droppings on water quality in and around livestock ponds, as well as in grazing areas where feces can be ingested by livestock, have raised concerns of livestock producers as this could impact health and/or outputs of livestock as well.
Agriculture and crop farms in NYS are exempt from federal depreciation permits and only need NYS DEC permit
Golf Courses
Canada goose damage to golf courses also is difficult to quantify. A survey in 1982 of 219 golf courses in the eastern United States, however, indicated that 26% had nuisance Canada goose problems. It is not uncommon for geese to cause $4,100-$6,200 (inflation adjusted ’20) damage per year to a golf course. Two golf course superintendents estimated that Canada geese caused between $$4,100 and $5,100 (inflation adjusted ’20) worth of property damage to each of their courses in 1989. Three other golf course superintendents, in the same geographic area, estimated that they spend $2,000 (inflation adjusted ’20) a year just cleaning up Canada goose droppings, exclusive of any direct property damage.
Aircraft Goose Damage
Waterfowl such as Canada geese, have been implicated in 4,338 strikes with aircraft between 1990 and 2013, resulting in millions of dollars in damage, loss of life, down plane time, as well as delayed flights.
Qualified airfields are exempt from depreciation permits and may remove nuisance geese as necessary.
Accumulation of Feces
Canada geese deposit feces anywhere the urge strikes them. Often, these are high-use areas by humans such as swimming beaches, parks, golf courses, sports fields, lawns, docks, and even patios. Accumulations can reach levels that reduce human use of these areas, most of which are recreationally important.
Degraded Water Quality
Large accumulations of feces near water can degrade water quality as rains wash the material into the water. Goose feces are high in phosphorus and nitrogen, nutrients that in excess can cause nuisance blooms of algae and aquatic plants in ponds and lakes. An excess of algae and submerged plants can lead to oxygen depletion at night due to plant respiration, and can cause a fish recreational game kill (Bass, Perch, Walleye etc.)
In addition, goose feces can contain a variety of pathogens such as Giardia and Coliform bacteria, which can cause illness in humans. Large numbers of geese can elevate concentrations of these pathogens in pond, reservoir and lake water, and accidental ingestion of such water can cause illness. Drinking water reservoirs and swimming areas have been temporarily closed due to high levels of E. coli attributed to goose feces.
Municipal water supply and beaches are exempt from needing a federal depreciation permit to remove problem geese. They can apply directly to the DEC
Property Damage
Geese readily eat turf-grass, sometimes causing grass cover to be reduced down to barren earth. This can cause erosion problems. Damage to landscaping can also occur. Repair and replacement of grasses and ornamental plantings can be expensive.
Attacking Humans
Adult geese with goslings or eggs in a nest are very defensive and will nip or hit people who venture too close. Particularly vulnerable to attacks are small children.
Car Collisions
Many municipalities reported an increase in car collisions as goose populations increased. The birds often walk between ponds, feeding areas, etc., which necessitates crossing roads. Their large size can cause damage to a vehicle when they are hit.
Disease Transmission
Canada geese pose a potential threat to human health and safety. Scientific studies have shown Canada goose feces to possess human pathogens such as Cryptosporidium species, Giardia species, Salmonella species, and E. coli, which have the potential risk of transmission to humans. This can pose a greater risk to small children who may be more likely to put their hands on the ground and in their mouths.
As a precautionary measure people are encouraged to minimize direct contact with goose feces, remove shoes prior to entering the home following contact, and wash hands thoroughly with an antibacterial soap.
Park and Recreation area damage
Resident Canada geese are often responsible for grazing damage to turf grass or intolerable levels of defecation at public parks corporate business areas, schools, college campuses, private lawns, playgrounds cemeteries, and community dwellings. Overgrazing and trampling of turf grasses as well as other grassy areas are common complaints from groundskeepers of at these locations. Canada Geese are also very loud and may disturb the peace.
Associated labor and re-seeding costs can be very expensive. Additionally, goose droppings have proven to be a nuisance in recreational sports that take place in these areas including soccer and baseball. Parents whose children play on fields littered with goose feces have become concerned about the increased chances of slipping-related injuries and disease as mentioned above. In parks and elsewhere the costs for employees cleaning-up goose droppings have added to the overall expense of managing resident Canada geese.
Economists collected information from published literature regarding the
typical cost of damage management and park maintenance related to
nuisance geese. This information was adjusted to 2020 dollars and provided realistic high ($72.63) and low ($24.98) values for annual damage estimates per bird.
Natural Resource Damage
Frequently cited examples of natural resource damage caused by Canada geese include grazing and trampling damage to restored and native wetlands, degraded water quality from fecal contamination, and erosion that occurs when geese eat and trample vegetation on slopes adjacent to bodies of water. Large amounts of goose feces in water bodies can also lead to algal blooms that cause oxygen depletion. This reduces the amount of oxygen available for, and can result in the exclusion or reduction of, aquatic plants and insects, fish (game fish), and wildlife species that would normally be present.
Federal Regulations Associated with the Control of Canada Geese
The following federal regulations guide management actions that may be taken to deal with nuisance Canada geese.
- 50 CFR Sec. 21.49 Control order for resident Canada geese at airports and military airfields
- 50 CFR Sec. 21.50 Depredation order for resident Canada geese nests and eggs
- 50 CFR Sec. 21.51 Depredation order for resident Canada geese at agricultural facilities
- 50 CFR Sec. 21.52 Public health control order for resident Canada geese