Welfare of Animals in Goose Hunting and Population Management

Canada geese and other goose populations have grown dramatically in some regions, prompting population management responses with varying welfare implications.

Key Facts

Canada goose populations in the eastern US grew from under 1 million in 1970 to over 3 million by 2020
Molting geese are flightless for 6 weeks in summer, making them vulnerable to roundup and slaughter
Egg oiling programs prevent hatching without disturbing nesting birds and are more humane than nest destruction
USDA Wildlife Services kills approximately 100,000 Canada geese annually in North America
Hazing programs using trained dogs, distress calls, and lasers effectively deter geese from specific sites

Welfare Considerations

Goose population management welfare depends on the method chosen: lethal roundup of molting geese causes extreme acute stress and often inhumane dispatch under field conditions; egg oiling prevents new geese from hatching without harming adults; targeted hunting allows some population control with better welfare outcomes than roundup; and hazing programs address human-wildlife conflict without any lethal harm. Non-lethal deterrents combined with egg oiling achieve management objectives with the lowest welfare cost.

What You Can Do

Support non-lethal goose management programs including egg oiling and hazing in your municipality
Advocate against goose roundup programs in favor of non-lethal alternatives
Donate to Project Geese Apart and similar organizations developing humane goose management approaches
Report inhumane goose management practices to wildlife authorities in your jurisdiction