The Canada Goose, a familiar sight across North America, often congregates in urban and suburban settings near water bodies like retention ponds, lakes, and golf course hazards. These environments provide the geese with short, manicured grass for easy grazing and open water for safety from predators. While their presence is natural, the sheer number of these birds living year-round in close proximity to human activity results in a significant accumulation of fecal matter, raising questions about the environmental health of these shared spaces.
The Scale of Waste Production
An adult Canada Goose has a highly inefficient digestive system, and as a result, it can defecate as frequently as every 20 minutes throughout the day. This constant process leads to a surprisingly large output, with one goose capable of producing between 1.5 and 3 pounds of fecal matter daily. This high rate of production is amplified when large flocks establish permanent residence in small, confined areas, like a local park pond or a small lake. The concentration of dozens of geese repeatedly depositing waste in and around the same limited water source creates a massive, localized waste load. This accumulation quickly overwhelms the natural capacity of the ecosystem to process and dilute the organic material.
Impact on Water Quality
Goose droppings are rich in nutrients, specifically nitrogen and phosphorus. These elements are similar to agricultural fertilizers, and when they enter a water body, they act as an intense nutrient boost for aquatic plant life. This excessive nutrient loading initiates a process known as eutrophication, where the water body becomes overly enriched. This fuels the unchecked growth of algae, leading to dense surface layers called algal blooms, which block sunlight from reaching beneficial submerged aquatic vegetation. As the algae dies, bacteria begin decomposition, consuming large amounts of Dissolved Oxygen (DO) from the water column. The resulting drop in DO levels can quickly stress or suffocate fish and other aquatic organisms, often leading to large-scale fish kills.
Public Health Risks
Goose feces pose direct risks to human and pet health, particularly in areas used for recreation. The droppings serve as a reservoir for numerous pathogenic bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can be transferred into the water. Pathogens commonly identified include Salmonella, Campylobacter jejuni, and strains of Escherichia coli (E. coli), as well as parasites such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium, which cause gastrointestinal illness. Exposure occurs through direct contact with contaminated soil or grass, or through the accidental ingestion of water during recreational activities like swimming or wading. The presence of these pathogens in high concentrations presents a clear public health hazard.
Strategies for Managing Goose Waste
Communities and property owners employ a variety of non-lethal, integrated strategies to manage goose populations and reduce waste accumulation.
Habitat Modification
Habitat modification is a long-term method focusing on making the immediate area less appealing to the birds. This includes allowing grass to grow to a height of 10 to 14 inches near shorelines, as geese prefer short, easily accessible turf for grazing and clear sightlines to watch for predators. Installing vegetative buffer zones with dense shrubs or planting less palatable ground cover near the water’s edge also discourages feeding and restricts easy access between the water and the land.
Harassment and Hazing
For immediate, short-term relief, hazing or harassment techniques are often used to instill a fear of predators and encourage the birds to relocate. Methods range from the use of trained border collies, which geese perceive as a natural threat, to pyrotechnics, lasers, or propane cannons that generate loud noises to startle the flocks.
Reproductive Control
Population growth can be managed through reproductive control methods such as egg addling or oiling, which must be conducted under federal permit. Egg oiling involves coating the eggshell with corn oil to prevent oxygen exchange, thereby stopping embryonic development without causing the adults to abandon the nest and lay new eggs elsewhere.