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Laws Canada geese are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which means that federal authorization is required in order to kill, capture, hunt, breed, handle, harm, sell or move them permits (USFWS, n.d). The following summaries are intended to describe federal and state laws pertaining to Canada geese. The full contents of each law can be found within the code of federal regulations. Code of federal regulations Title 36- Parks, Forests, and Public Property PART 2—Resource Protection, Public Use and Recreation §2.2-Wildlife Protection In all U.S. parks holding, handling, feeding, touching, or killing wildlife is a violation of federal law (National Park Service (NPS), n.d.). Hunting and trapping of wildlife is permitted with federal authorization only, and equipment must be in accordance with federal regulations (NPS, n.d.). Title 50- Wildlife and Fisheries §21.49-Control order for resident Canada geese at airports and military airfields This control order grants permission to all U.S. airports to create and employ Canada goose management programs if they are determined to be a danger to aircraft operation (U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO), n.d.). The programs may include a variety of management techniques including harassment, trapping, egg oiling, and lethal methods, so long as more than one method is used (GPO, n.d.) The use of each method must adhere to time frames when they are authorized (GPO, n.d.). Egg and nest management can only occur between March 1 and June 30 of each year, while capture, the use of pharmaceuticals, trapping, and other lethal methods can only occur from April 1 to September 15 (GPO, n.d.). Title 50- Wildlife and Fisheries §21.50- Depredation order for resident Canada geese nests and eggs This depredation order grants permission to people who own land privately or publicly to manage resident Canada geese on their property through the destruction of eggs or nests (GPO, n.d.). Landowners and staff can only engage in such practices after registering for a permit online (GPO, n.d.). Depredation techniques can only be used to protect people or property and cannot be used if they have a negative impact on species listed under the Endangered Species Act (GPO, n.d.). Title 50- Wildlife and Fisheries §21.51- Depredation order for resident Canada geese at agricultural facilities This depredation order grants permission to agricultural facilities to employ non-lethal and lethal management strategies in order to mitigate harm to agriculture related properties (GPO, n.d.). Egg and nest management can only occur between March 1 and June 30 of each year, while capture, the use of pharmaceuticals, trapping, and other lethal methods can only occur from May 1 to August 31 (GPO, n.d.).
