What to Do About Nuisance Geese

December 18, 2008

Question: I live near the northern California coast and have five acres of pasture for horses and cattle. A few years ago a flock of as many as 80 Canada geese showed up and have taken up residency all year long and my neighbor has half again as many on his property. Besides fouling the watering troughs, they also consume a lot of pasture grass. The soccer fields at my grandkids schools where they play are littered with droppings. What can I do about these nuisance geese? Can I shoot them? (Tom E.)

Answer: Yuck!! Unfortunately, since these are migratory birds protected by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, control methods are limited or allowed only under permit in certain instances.

According to our Waterfowl Specialist Dan Yparraguirre, you are allowed to scare the geese away with non-lethal means at any time. If you want to control their numbers through nest and egg destruction, that is now allowable (an amendment to Title 14 Section 503 pertaining to nuisance Canada geese now allows this with certain requirements. Check for these before doing so).

To reduce the number of adult geese, if hazing doesn’t work, you also have the option of hunting them during the open hunting season as long as you have the proper hunting licenses and duck stamps. This is allowed provided you live far enough away from your neighbors (150 yards) and you check to make sure there are no local ordinances prohibiting the discharge of firearms in your area.