Urban Goose Management: Coexistence Strategies

Canada geese and other urban geese populations have grown in many cities. Welfare-respecting management strategies balance human needs with goose wellbeing rather than relying on lethal control.

Key Facts

Canada geese populations in the US grew from 1 million in 1990 to over 3.5 million by 2010
Urban geese benefit from manicured lawns, water bodies, and lack of predators
Egg oiling — coating eggs with corn oil to stop development — is a commonly permitted non-lethal population control method
Habitat modification such as planting tall vegetation near water discourages nesting
Lethal roundups during molting season when geese cannot fly have drawn animal welfare criticism

Welfare Considerations

Geese are highly social animals that form lasting pair bonds and care for their young. Lethal removal methods cause obvious animal welfare harms and may also be counterproductive if not combined with habitat changes. Non-lethal approaches — egg oiling, habitat deterrents, trained border collies — can reduce conflicts humanely while addressing root causes. Communities that invest in habitat modification achieve longer-lasting results than those relying on removal alone.

What You Can Do

Support your local government in adopting egg oiling programs permitted under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act
Avoid feeding geese, which increases local populations and human-goose conflict
Advocate for habitat modification — tall plantings near ponds — as a long-term deterrent
If your community uses border collie hazing, ensure dogs are properly trained and welfare-supervised
Oppose mass lethal roundups in favor of integrated management approaches