2
Project Summary Canada geese that do not migrate are considered nuisance wildlife in many places across the country. Known as resident geese, the controversy about their presence is complex, and Long Island has been home to this conflict between the geese and residents for several decades. Nearly all of what is known about Canada geese on Long Island comes from local municipalities and private groups struggling with population control, private companies hired to control geese populations, non-profit environmental groups interested in birds and humane issues, and citizen scientists. Those focusing on population control are concerned with specific associated issues such as sanitary conditions, aesthetics, and public safety. Citizen scientists simply census geese and otherwise help with counts. This report attempts to evaluate and document the human-wildlife conflict between Long Island residents and Canada geese. Our exploration of the issue has revealed some of the history of the conflict and how it is handled today. Some of the conflict involves aesthetics, with residents and business owners reporting that geese ruin the appearance of their lawns, parks, and golf courses by overgrazing and leaving excrement. Another large portion of the conflict involves hazards to the public. Airport officials work to manage geese at airports due to safety risks caused by birds colliding with planes. Many others say the geese are the cause of disease and nutrient contamination of Long Island water bodies. There is also concern about aggression from geese, especially during their nesting season. Long Island residents interested in goose management face both legal restrictions and a variety of options for help. Federal and state laws put restrictions on goose management methods, hunting, and how people can interact with them. Many of the local laws involving Canada geese on Long Island are meant to prevent people from feeding the birds. Residents can call town and state agencies for guidance on goose management or contact private companies for population control. Despite the level of human-goose conflict little focused research has been conducted in the region. Canada geese numbers and movement on Long Island are monitored largely through raw banding data, hunting data, and highly localized studies for airports. Citizen science projects such as Ebird and the Christmas Bird Count provide data on population numbers in specific areas across Long Island. An overall estimate of Canada geese on Long Island is conducted by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation annually.
The information aggregated in this report reveals aspects of the conflict, indicating its deeply woven presence in the lives of Long Island residents. First, it appears that the localized population control efforts by non-profit organizations, private companies, municipalities, and activists are not well documented or monitored, making it is impossible to assess their effectiveness.
