Time to Think About Geese

Information on ways commercial farmers can address geese damage is gathered on the NJAES Snyder Farm Wildlife Damage Guide for Geese, Deer, and other species. Growers can apply for permits from NJ DEP Division of Fish & Wildlife to "addle" eggs and utilize harassment techniques such as propane cannons and pyrotechnics, noisemakers, and visual flagging.

Over the past 20 years resident Canada Geese are recognized  as causing more and more crop damage. Their population numbers are reported to be about 76,000 statewide.  Recently farmers, NJ Farm Bureau, and elected officials met in Burlington County where farmers emphasized the need for control measures. As one grain farmer stated, “We have problems with deer, but we can control them. But the geese - there’s just too many of them.” In addition to crop damage, geese introduce food and water safety problems.  The US Fish and Wildlife Service response to this issue can be found in their  final frameworks for Late-Season Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations released on Sept 21, 2011.

Resident Canada Geese are not the only geese to watch out for this winter; Snow Geese arriving in large flocks can decimate a cover crop field in a day. Our research team personally experienced that phenomenon this past winter.
- Rabin