Q. What is OvoControl®?

A. OvoControl® is an oral contraceptive 

bait for use on resident or urban Canada 

goose and feral pigeon 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 by Innolytics, LLC.

Q. Why are resident Canada geese and feral pigeons 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.

The feral pigeon is an inva sive species responsible for estimated 

damages totaling more than $1 billion annually. At least 70 human 

pathogens—including those that cause diseases such as histoplasmosis and 

cryptococcosis—are known to reside in feral pigeon populations.

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 

Protecting People

Protecting Agriculture

Protecting Wildlife

Wildlife Services Factsheet

March 2011

Questions and Answers:

OvoControl®

Wildlife Services (WS), a 

program within the U.S. 

Department of Agriculture’s 

(USDA) Animal and Plant 

Health Inspection Service 

(APHIS), provides Federal 

leadership and expertise 

to resolve wildlife confl icts 

that threaten the Nation’s 

agricultural and natural 

resources, human health and 

safety, and property.

OvoControl® is a nonlethal, 

humane method for managing 

overabundant resident Canada 

goose and feral pigeon 

populations.

OvoControl® fed to Canada 

geese and pigeons during 

their breeding season 

effectively reduces the 

hatching success of eggs.

Oral Contraceptive 

Baits for 

Canada Geese 

and Feral Pigeons
of the yolk and by weakening the yolk membrane, 

which allows the albumin and yolk to mix. It also 

inhibits sperm from fertilizing the egg. Because of this 

effect, when OvoControl® is fed to Canada geese and 

pigeons during 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 weeks.

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 and pigeons 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 

the side effects of nicarbazin in poultry do not apply to 

geese or pigeons.

Q. Are there any dangers or secondary hazards to 

humans, 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 or pigeons 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 or pigeon, 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 weeks. 

Q. Can OvoControl® be used with 

other wildlife species?

A. In addition to Canada geese 

and pigeons, OvoControl® has been 

registered for use in Muscovy, 

Mallard, and domestic ducks.

Q. What are the benefits of 

OvoControl®?

A. OvoControl® is a nonlethal, 

humane method for managing overabundant resident 

Canada goose and feral pigeon populations. It is not 

harmful to geese, pigeons, other birds, waterfowl, or 

people. The goose product is a bread-like bait similar in 

shape and size to a large corn kernel. The pigeon bait 

is smaller and harder. The bait can be stored at room 

temperature for up to 3 years and can be distributed with 

broadcast bait feeders or by hand. 

Q. What are the limitations of OvoControl®?

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

consume at least one ounce 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 once a day throughout 

the entire goose nesting period, which lasts from 8 to 10 

weeks. The use of OvoControl® for geese is limited to sites 

in urban areas such as office parks, recreational parks, 

golf courses, schools, hospitals, restaurants, and 

commercial and industrial sites. The use of OvoControl®

for pigeons is also limited to urban areas and should be 

applied year-round, depending on the climate. 

OvoControl® is a nonlethal, humane method for managing 

overabundant resident Canada goose and feral pigeon populations.
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 product label must be strictly 

followed.

Q. What can you expect in terms of population control 

following the first year of use?

A. OvoControl® has no effect on the current number 

of adult or juvenile resident geese or pigeons. Under 

ideal conditions, with all target birds consuming 

the appropriate dose during the breeding season, 

no new chicks or goslings are hatched. Under 

actual field use, not all targeted birds may consume 

the bait. Consequently, some young may still 

be observed, although the numbers would be 

significantly reduced. Field studies in pigeons have 

shown a 50–55 percent reduction in flock population 

within 1 year.

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://www.ovocontrol.com/. OvoControl can be 

purchased directly from Innolytics, LLC. The company’s 

address and telephone are: 

Innolytics, LLC

P.O. Box 975935

Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067

Telephone: (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 and feral pigeons. Its use is supported 

by numerous animal welfare and conservation groups, 

including: The Humane Society of the United States, 

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), 

American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to 

Animals (SPCA) and the Peregrine Fund. 

In 2005, OvoControl received the Best BirdFriendly 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. In 2009, the NWRC 

received the Colorado Governor’s Research Impact 

Award for its part in the development of OvoControl®. 

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 NWRC Web site at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/

wildlife_damage/nwrc/ or the Innolytics, LLC, Web site at 

http:// www.ovocontrol.com/.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Mention of companies or commercial products does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the USDA over others not mentioned. The USDA neither guarantees 

nor warrants the standard of any product mentioned. Product names are mentioned solely to report factually on available data and to provide specifi c information. 

United States Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service