OvoControlTM G–Oral

Contraceptive Bait for

Canada Geese:

Questions and

Answers

Q. What is OvoControlTM G?

A. OvoControlTM G is a new bait for resident or

urban Canada goose populations that reduces the

hatchability of eggs. It was developed by scientists at

the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Wildlife

Services’ (WS) National Wildlife Research Center

(NWRC) and Innolytics, LLC.

Q. Why are resident Canada geese considered a

problem?

A. Large populations of resident Canada geese are

often considered a nuisance and can be a potential

health risk because they foul land and water with

their droppings and can collide with and damage aircraft. Recent studies have also found Escherichia

coli, Listeria and Campylobacter bacteria, strains

associated with human disease, in Canada goose

feces.

Q. How does OvoControl work?

A. OvoControl contains nicarbazin. Nicarbazin is a

compound traditionally given to broiler chickens to

prevent the disease coccidiosis, one of the more

common and costly diseases in poultry. Coccidiosis

causes droopiness, paleness of the comb, diarrhea,

and blood in the droppings and can lead to death of

both chicks and adults.

A side effect of nicarbazin is decreased egg production and hatching rates. Nicarbazin affects the

hatchability of eggs by changing the pH of the yolk

and by weakening the yolk membrane, which allows

the albumin and yolk to mix. As a result, the embryo

cannot develop.

Because of this effect, when OvoControl is fed to

Canada geese for the duration of their breeding season, the nicarbazin effectively reduces the hatching

success of eggs. When nicarbazin is withdrawn from

the diet, egg production and hatchability return to

normal within a few days.

Q. What are the health effects associated with

OvoControl?

A. The health effects associated with OvoControl are

minimal. In pen studies, body weight, blood gases,

hemoglobin, hematocrit, and blood cell morphology

were similar among birds in treatment and control

groups.

In chickens, studies have shown that treatment

with nicarbazin reduces the bird’s ability to dissipate

heat when environmental temperatures and humidity

are both high (over 90 °F and 85 percent humidity).

Because Canada geese nest in the spring, when the

temperature and humidity conditions are not high

enough to cause overheating, this side effect has not

been observed. Also, Canada geese can modify

their behavior (e.g., by sitting in the shade, taking a

bath, etc.) to help regulate their body temperature

whereas caged chickens are limited in their movements. Overall, it appears that these side effects of

nicarbazin in poultry do not apply to geese.

Q. Are there any dangers or secondary hazards

to humans or other birds or animals that may eat

the bait?

A. OvoControl can reduce egg hatchability and production in all bird species. Because of this, only

licensed wildlife specialists or pest control operators

are permitted to buy and use OvoControl. They must

follow label instructions to minimize the potential for

nontarget wildlife species to feed on bait.

There are no known dangers associated with eating geese that have been treated with OvoControl. It

has been used extensively in the poultry industry for

more than 50 years. Once OvoControl is digested

and absorbed by the goose, it is no longer biologically available to a secondary species.

Q. How long do the effects of OvoControl last?

A. When nicarbazin is withdrawn from the diet, egg

production and hatchability return to normal within a

few days.

Q. Can OvoControl be used with other wildlife

species?

A. In addition to Canada geese, OvoControl has

proven effective for use with pigeons. However, it is

currently registered only for Canada geese. Future

research will likely be directed toward registering

OvoControl for use with other overabundant bird

species.

Factsheet 

Wildlife Services A ril 2006

APHIS 
Q. What are the benefits of OvoControl?

A. OvoControl is a nonlethal, humane method for

managing overabundant resident Canada goose populations. It is not harmful to geese, birds, other

waterfowl, or people. The breadlike bait is similar in

shape and size to a large corn kernel. It can be

stored at room temperature for up to 1 year. It can be

distributed with broadcast bait feeders or by hand.

When conducting Canada goose population-control

work for airport safety, field crews can broadcast

OvoControl from an automatic feeder.

Q. What are the limitations of OvoControl?

A. In order for the bait to be effective, geese must

consume at least 50 grams of the bait per day for at

least 21 days prior to the start of the nesting season.

The bait must continue to be consumed daily throughout the entire goose nesting period, which lasts from

8 to 10 weeks.

The use of OvoControl is limited to sites in urban

areas such as office parks, recreational parks, golf

courses, schools, hospitals, restaurants, airports, and

commercial and industrial sites. “Urban” is defined as

a municipality with a population of 50,000 or more and

its adjacent areas.

Q. Who can use OvoControl?

A. Because OvoControl is regulated by the U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and is a

restricted-use chemical, only licensed wildlife specialists or pest control operators are permitted to buy and

use it. All requirements on the drug label must be

strictly followed.

Q. What can you expect in terms of population

control for resident geese following the first year

of use?

A. OvoControl has no effect on the current number of

adult or juvenile resident geese. Following the first

year of treatment, under ideal conditions, with all mating geese consuming the appropriate dose during the

breeding season, no goslings would be expected.

Under actual field use, not all geese may consume

the bait. Consequently, some goslings may still be

observed, but the numbers of goslings would be 

significantly reduced.

Q. How much does OvoControl cost, and where

can I purchase it?

A. Innolytics, LLC, has received regulatory approval

from EPA to market and sell the new contraceptive

bait. To find out more about the cost, please go to

<http://hatchcontrol.com> on the Web. OvoControl

can be purchased directly from

Innolytics, LLC

P.O. Box 975935

Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067

Phone: (858) 759–8012 

Q. Who supports the use of OvoControl?

A. OvoControl is a humane, nonlethal alternative to

managing overabundant populations of resident

Canada geese. Its use is supported by numerous

conservation groups, including The Humane Society

of the United States, People for the Ethical Treatment

of Animals (PETA), and Ducks Unlimited. In 2005,

OvoControl received the Best Bird-Friendly Innovation

Proggy Award from PETA and the Outstanding

Technology Development Award from the Federal

Laboratory Consortium (FLC) Mid-Continent Region.

The FLC is a nationwide network of Federal laboratories that provides a forum for developing strategies

and opportunities that link Federal laboratory expertise with the private sector.

Q. What is the NWRC mission?

A. NWRC is the research arm of USDA’s WS program, a nonregulatory program that provides Federal

leadership in managing conflicts with wildlife. NWRC

applies scientific expertise to the development of

practical methods to resolve human–wildlife conflicts

and maintain the quality of the environments shared

with wildlife.

Q. How do I obtain more information on

OvoControl and NWRC?

A. For more information on OvoControl, please go to

the WS National Wildlife Research Center Web site at

<http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ws/nwrc> or the Innolytics

Web site at <http:// www.innolyticsllc.com/>.

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United States Department of Agriculture • Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service • Safeguarding American Agriculture