Goose Roundup Season is Fast Approaching: Here’s How to Prepare
With goose roundup season just around the corner, the time to devise a plan is now. Here’s what you need to know to prepare.
Left uncontrolled, Canada geese can quickly become a nightmare for property owners and managers. Aggressive geese are known to attack people and pets and their unsightly waste may contaminate water and even carry parasitic diseases like Giardia.
While geese can threaten health and safety any time of year, it isn’t uncommon to notice an uptick in goose conflicts, loitering and waste accumulation in the spring through midsummer. Once goslings hatch in the spring, Canada geese go through a process called molting. During this time, (approximately June 3 to July 10) geese shed their flight feathers (and temporarily lose their ability to fly).
Flightless geese and their goslings tend to congregate in areas with open sightlines, cover and resources including food and water — like golf courses, business parks and office courtyards. Adult geese tend to exhibit increasingly aggressive behavior toward humans to protect their young during this time.
Molting season may trigger increased goose conflicts but does have an upside. During the brief season – and with some advanced planning – geese may be physically removed from properties with an effective solution: goose roundups.
How Goose Roundups Work
When large numbers of stubborn geese cannot be managed by alternative control strategies, goose roundups are recommended.
During a goose roundup, permitted property owners or certified Waterfowl Control Operators corral the birds and load them onto a trailer. Geese are then safely relocated to an approved fish and wildlife area or taken to a euthanasia site. This decision is made on an individual basis by the property owner or manager.
Goose roundup in action
Don’t Miss Your Chance to Remove Geese from Your Property
In Indiana, barring extenuating circumstances, goose roundups may only occur during their molting period. A permit is always required.
Although many people see Canada geese as a nuisance, it is important to remember they are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. Before geese are removed from a property, approval must be granted by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (INDNR).
The best practice is to partner with a professional wildlife control agency who understands INDNR permitting. Without a proper permit, geese may only be harassed – and not physically touched or removed. Doing so without a permit may result in a hefty fine.
Schedule Your Goose Roundup Today
Because goose roundups may only be conducted during their flightless period and a permit must be secured prior to the service, the time to act is now. Luckily, scheduling a roundup service is easy.
The seasoned professionals at Rusty’s Animal Control (RAC) will help you through every step of the roundup process. The team will help you complete permit application paperwork and answer any questions that arise about the process.
Once the permit application is approved, the team will work with you to remove geese on a day that aligns with their molting period and fits into your schedule. Once geese are rounded up, our team will relocate the geese or take them to a euthanasia site, depending on your preference.
For more information about goose roundup and other goose management services, reach out to speak to a member of our team.