Living with Wildlife in Manitoba
Geese in Winnipeg
A Homeowner's Guide for Managing Canada Geese
Table of Contents:
In Winnipeg, we are fortunate to have an abundance of green
space that allows many wildlife species, including geese, to
coexist with us, and indeed thrive in our city. Many Winnipeggers
enjoy the sight of Canada geese on their property and some people
even encourage the presence of these birds by feeding them. A few
geese may appear harmless, but in large numbers, they can become a
major problem.
Geese nesting or feeding in an urban area can cause significant
damage to lawns, parks, golf courses and even nearby agricultural
crops. Without doubt, goose droppings foul lawns and sidewalks and
can degrade water quality on urban lakes and reservoirs, posing a
threat to human health. As well, increasing numbers of geese
around the Winnipeg International Airport can be dangerous to
arriving and departing aircraft.
Because urban geese are not exposed to the same risks as those
in more remote areas, the goose population in Winnipeg is
thriving. Recent surveys have shown that the number of geese in
this city is growing at a significant rate each year. At the peak
of fall migration, the Canada goose population in Winnipeg now
exceeds 120,000 birds.
As the urban goose population grows and human/goose conflicts
increase, residents’ tolerance for these birds will decrease. If
we are to continue to enjoy wild geese in Winnipeg, a balance must
be struck between numbers of geese and associated risk to human
health, safety and property. These concerns will play an important
role in deciding the future of urban geese.
As in other urban wildlife issues, a single, quick fix solution
for the urban goose problem is unlikely. To reduce the attraction
of geese and resulting damage to private property, residents
should consider using one or more of the following techniques.
These techniques have proven effective in many other cities.
Do Not Feed The Geese!
Although feeding geese may seem like a beneficial thing to do,
it may, in actual fact, do more harm than good:
- Geese become used to handouts and quickly lose their fear
of humans, putting the birds more at risk.
- Feeding attracts other geese to an area, adding to the
problem of too many geese in Winnipeg.
- Food given by humans is generally less nutritious and
reliance on handouts can lead to malnourishment and possible
mortality.
- Providing food often delays migration, resulting in added
stress and mortality to geese.
In the absence of human handouts, geese are capable of finding
available food and will survive quite well on their own.
Barrier Fencing
Fencing or other physical barriers can be effective where geese
tend to land on water and walk up onto adjacent lawns to feed or
rest. Effective barriers include:
- Wood fencing
- Chain link mesh
- Shrubs or hedgerows
- Boulders
- Temporary fencing (e.g. plastic snow fence or nylon mesh)
The fence or barrier should be at least 30" (75 cm) tall,
solidly constructed and completely enclose the area to be
protected. Geese are persistent and regular maintenance may be
required to ensure the fence or barrier is preventing access.
Lawn Care
Geese are grazing birds that prefer short, green grass for
feeding, such as Kentucky bluegrass. Well-manicured lawns and
newly seeded or sodded areas are particularly vulnerable to goose
grazing damage. Simple changes in typical lawn care practices can
reduce the attractiveness of lawns to geese:
• Allow grass to grow longer. Longer grass makes it harder
for geese to find the young, tender shoots they prefer.
• Reduce the use of fertilizers. Fertilizers promote the
growth of young, tender shoots that geese prefer.
• Reduce watering. Grass may stop growing during dry periods
and new shoots will not be produced, reducing the attraction to
geese.
• Plant grasses and shrubs that geese do not like (e.g.
fescue and juniper).
A professional landscaper may be able to assist in the
selection of proper grasses and shrubs.
Scaring (Hazing)
Visual scaring techniques to deter geese are usually
inexpensive, may be quickly implemented, are quiet and can be used
in most urban situations. The following have all been used with
varying degrees of success:
- Strobe lights
- Mylar flash tape
- Flags
- "Scare eye" balloons
- Scarecrows
Geese may become used to these techniques, so they should used
in combination with other techniques previously noted. Noisemaking
devices to scare geese will likely not be tolerated by your
neighbours and are not recommended.
For more information on by-laws that may regulate use of any
or all of these techniques, contact the City of Winnipeg at
986-2171.
What Others are Doing
For many years, Manitoba Conservation has studied Canada goose
populations throughout the province. In 1998, Manitoba
Conservation also began to monitor resident and migrant goose
populations in Winnipeg. This information will prove very helpful
in any future management efforts.
Goose damage to agricultural crops, in and around the city,
costs farmers, and ultimately the taxpayer, tens of thousands of
dollars annually in lost crops and damage compensation payments.
Manitoba Conservation, in cooperation with the Canadian Wildlife
Service, helps farmers to prevent this damage through the Canada-Manitoba
Waterfowl Crop Damage Prevention Program. By participating in
this program, farmers can borrow scare cannons, scarecrows and
cracker shells to scare geese from their crops.
Furthermore, the City of Winnipeg regularly monitors the Deacon
Water Reservoir to ensure the city’s drinking water quality is
maintained. Any change in water quality associated with geese can
be readily detected and acted upon, especially during the height
of fall migration.
There is also a team effort within the airline industry to
minimize conflict between birds and aircraft, especially geese.
The Winnipeg Airports Authority has a comprehensive program to
control birds and other wildlife within airport boundaries. Nav
Canada monitors the in-flight progress of large flocks of geese
using radar and the visual observations of control tower
personnel. This information, combined with recent pilot reports,
is passed to arriving and departing aircrews to provide them with
the most accurate and updated information on the local flight
situation.
By discouraging Canada geese from your property, you will
enhance the overall success of these efforts to reduce problems
associated with geese in Winnipeg.
The Urban Goose Working Group
The increasing abundance of suitable habitat (man-made lakes,
parks and golf courses), ample sources of food (lawns and
agricultural crops) and lack of predators (fox and man) will
encourage further growth of the Canada goose population in
Winnipeg.
Because of growing concern about increasing goose numbers and
related problems in Winnipeg, other government departments and
non-government organizations indicated an interest in helping
manage the burgeoning goose problem. As a result, the Urban
Goose Working Group (UGWG) was formed in February 2000.
UGWG Members
- Manitoba Conservation
- Canadian Wildlife Service
- City of Winnipeg
- Winnipeg Airports Authority
- Air Canada
- Manitoba Wildlife Federation
- Winnipeg Humane Society
UGWG Mission Statement
To cooperatively manage urban geese within the City of Winnipeg
in order to reduce the risk of goose-related adverse effects to
human safety, health, and property, as well as the overall goose
population itself.
UGWG Goal
To manage the Winnipeg urban goose population at an acceptable
level within human safety, health, economic, biological and social
tolerances.
Additional Information
For more information on the Urban Goose Working Group, please
contact Robert Bruce at 945-7750 or 1-800-214-6497.
The information on this page is also available as a PDF publication.
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