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Hawkeye Bird & Animal Control founder and one of Canada's foremost experts on Geese Control Dan Frankian sat down for a virtual interview with Chris Ensing of CBC News to discuss how best to approach the growing goose population in Windsor, Ontario.
Windsor city officials deem the Canada goose population out of control and are willing to go as far as considering a mass cull.
What are the Issues with Windsor's Goose Population?
Riverside-area councilor Jo-Anne Gignac pushed for action on reducing the goose population in Windsor after an incident last summer when a cyclist nearly collided with geese while riding his bike on Ganatchio Trail. Trying to avoid them, he swerved and took a spill that resulted in a broken collar bone and six broken ribs - and missed work, etc. And, this is not an isolated incident.
Conflicts between Canada Geese and Humans
- Sheer number of Geese
Particularly in early summer, families of Canada Geese are crossing busy highways and other roads - often causing automobile collisions, injuries, and monetary damages; - Aggressive Geese
Geese are intelligent and have strong social networks. Families travel together for at least a year and parents are fiercely protective of their young; - Goose Droppings
Excessive goose poop is contaminating bodies of water and popular summer destinations such as Windsor's Sandpoint Beach; - Unsanitary Conditions and Health Hazards
Geese, like other wild birds and waterfowl, carry a host of diseases on their feathers and expel parasites and pathogens in their feces. - Slip and Fall Accidents
Goose feces is wet and slippery and large quantities in parks and along water's edges easily cause slip and fall incidents.
Hawkeye's Dan Frankian on Reducing the Goose Population in Windsor, Ontario
After over 35 years of dealing with geese and goose management plans, Dan Frankian has a few thoughts based on his experience and expertise. In his conversation wit CBC he narrowed it down to 'Do not let the geese population grow'.
Disrupting the Canada Goose Breeding Cycle
Dan Frankian firmly believes that egg and nest destruction is the way forward to curb the continuing growth of Windsor's goose population. Nests need to be destroyed in front of the female in order for her to understand that she will not have a successful nest and to recognize humans as a threat to be feared. This is in contrast to chemical oiling of the eggs, where, although the eggs are no longer viable, mother goose is blissfully unaware and will continue to sit on her eggs and go on protecting her nest.
Convincing Geese to Seek Greener Pastures
- Trained Dogs
Trained dogs are quite successful at disbursing geese when patrolling the area and chasing geese on the ground. This needs to be pursued vigorously and repeatedly. - Birds of Prey
Falconry for Goose Control is very successful and in fact works best when used alongside trained dogs. Large birds of prey (eagles) in the air and dogs on the ground send an unambiguous message that the area is unsafe and unsuitable for breeding and nesting.
Geese Relocation
With federal permit and during the molt, geese can be rounded up and relocated to a predetermined and approved spot along their migration route. Molting geese shed all of their primary flight feathers and remain flightless for a period of time. This is a fairly costly affair and requires the relocation site being secured and monitored until geese are ready to head south for the winter.
Perseverance is Key when it comes to Deterring Geese
According to Dan Frankian, the key is to outlast the geese with your control and/or removal efforts: You cannot stop until the geese have given up and moved on — which can take more than a few years. When they do move on, efforts need to continue for one more year - for good measure. But, if even one goose comes back to nest, you need to be prepared to start all over again.
Why Are Canada Goose Populations Exploding?
Geese are prolific breeders and produce two to eight eggs (although, as many as 11 eggs have been reported in one clutch) per year, starting when the adults are around three years old. The large birds nest in the spring in familiar areas for their entire lives and can produce 176 eggs in their lifetime.
Other factors include:
- Abundance of Food and Water
Urban living comes with the benefit of access to plenty of leftover human foods - producing what is often called 'popcorn' geese. - Lack of Natural Predators in Urban Environments
The frequent coming and going of pesky humans doesn't bother the geese much but keeps their predators at a bit of a distance. This, in turn, leads to the survival of more goslings who then reach maturity and return to familiar breeding grounds to reproduce themselves.
Contact Hawkeye Bird & Animal Control
Whether you are a city official, airport or property manager, Hawkeye Bird & Animal Control is here to help you get rid of Canada Geese. Hawkeye has long emerged as the leader in pest bird control and is ready to get you started on a geese management plan with long-term success. With several offices in Canada and the Southern United States, Hawkeye' offers the resources, knowledge, and experience to achieve your goals. Call Hawkeye today!
Learn more about Dan Frankian, a former Canadian Armed Forces sniper and master falconer has traveled all over the world to help large corporations and government agencies get pest bird populations under control. Also, read the full Interview with CBC News
