Greylag geese and Canada geese have established large urban populations that create conflict, with welfare implications for management approaches that range from lethal control to coexistence strategies.
Urban goose welfare management involves several competing considerations: geese that create conflict through overgrazing or fouling face lethal control that imposes welfare costs; geese fed bread develop wing deformities that prevent flight; egg oiling prevents hatching without killing adults. The welfare hierarchy favours non-lethal management where effective — reduced public feeding reduces population growth and prevents angel wing; egg oiling prevents population expansion without adult killing. Where lethal control is necessary, welfare-conscious shooting by trained operators is preferable to inhumane methods.