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Protecting People

Protecting Agriculture

Protecting Wildlife

Wildlife Services

United States Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

MANAGEMENT OF CANADA GOOSE NESTING

Canada geese are one of the most readily recognized 

birds in the United States, and they are enjoyed 

by birdwatchers, sportsmen and women, outdoor 

enthusiasts and citizens. However, in some areas, 

Canada geese can damage 

property, impact agriculture, 

pose disease threats, 

and present public safety 

problems. An integrated 

damage management 

program which includes a 

variety of safe, practical, and 

effective techniques usually 

provides the best relief from 

Canada goose damage. 

The integrated approach 

should include banning the 

feeding of waterfowl, habitat 

modification, harassment, 

control of nesting, and in some cases, legal sport 

harvest (goose hunting), and humanely implemented 

removal of geese. The purpose of this document 

is to describe the techniques and methods 

associated with management of Canada goose 

nesting. The information is applicable to all areas 

of the lower 48 states where resident population 

Canada geese occur. For additional State-specific 

recommendations and guidance on Canada goose 

damage management methods, contact the APHIS 

Wildlife Services (WS) office in your State or call 

1-866-4USDAWS.

Canada Goose Populations

Two behaviorally distinct types of goose populations 

exist in most parts of the country: resident and 

migratory. Resident, or non-migratory Canada geese, 

are those that nest within the lower 48 states and the 

District of Columbia during March-June, or that reside 

there during the months of April-August. However, 

some resident geese will migrate short distances 

during the summer prior to molting while others may 

migrate during the fall/winter depending upon the 

severity of the weather. There are an estimated 

3.6 million resident Canada geese in North America 

(2008). Migratory Canada geese move between 

breeding grounds in Canada and overwintering areas 

in the US, but do not nest in the lower 48 states. 

Canada Goose Nesting – 

The Basics

Resident Canada geese 

are well-adapted to human 

dominated landscapes, and 

they nest in a wide variety of 

locales – some in very close 

proximity to people. Goose 

nests occur near sidewalks 

and entryways of homes and 

other buildings, adjacent 

to paths and roadways, and 

on rooftops and porches. They are also found in 

more traditional areas, including parks, farmlands, 

and other open space. The resident goose nesting 

season occurs as early as late February through 

mid-May, with most eggs hatching during early May. 

Both birds of the pair attend the nest. Once all eggs 

have been laid (approximately 1 egg per day is laid 

with 2-12 eggs in a complete clutch and 5 eggs 

as the average), incubation begins and the mate 

remains close by. Eggs are incubated for 28 days. 

In southern states, goose nesting may occur slightly 

earlier than in northern areas. As the nesting season 

passes, geese gather into flocks and congregate in 

open areas for the molting period. During the molt 

resident geese lose their flight feathers and remain 

flightless during mid-June to early July. Molting geese 

generally prefer areas that provide food (grass or 

crops) and water. During this time, the goslings are 

also flightless since they have not yet developed their 

adult feathers that will enable them to fly.

Canada Geese

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August 2009
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landowners must continue to comply with State 

and local laws. Refer to the State Wildlife Agency 

Contacts and Information on Resident Canada Goose 

Nest and Egg Destruction on the FWS website to 

determine if your State participates in the program 

and if an additional State permit is required in your 

area. 

Management of Nesting Can Reduce GooseRelated Problems

Management of Canada goose nesting through 

destruction of nests and eggs, or through treatment 

of eggs, can ease damage problems. When geese 

are aggressively defending nests near doorways, 

on playgrounds, at schools, and other high-traffic 

areas, destruction of the nest and eggs along with 

nesting area habitat modifications 

can sometimes cause the geese to 

move elsewhere. Treatment of goose 

eggs so that they do not hatch will 

reduce or eliminate the presence of 

goslings. This will reduce goose feces 

accumulations and other damage 

such as overgrazing of lawns and 

crop depredation. Control of goose 

nesting will increase the effectiveness 

of nonlethal methods, especially use 

of noise-making devices, since adult 

geese that are not tending to flightless goslings 

are more inclined to leave an area when they are 

harassed. 

Although nest and egg treatment/destruction is 

useful to curb population growth at a local scale, it 

should not be relied upon for immediate population 

reductions. Geese are long-lived birds (10-25 years 

in the wild) and they have a single, defined nesting 

season. Research indicates that elimination of 

nesting in a large scale regional effort would have 

to be conducted over many years before population 

stabilization would even occur. Regardless, 

management of goose nesting can be an important 

part of an overall integrated management approach to 

living with Canada geese in your community.

Legal Status and Authorities

The Canada goose is a migratory bird species that is 

afforded the protections of the Migratory Bird Treaty 

Act, Federal regulations, and State laws. Handling 

and lethal management of Canada geese for 

damage management purposes, such as capturing 

and euthanizing birds, or shooting birds outside of 

established hunting seasons, require depredation 

permit(s). However, there are flexibilities in the 

regulations that permit management of resident 

Canada geese in order to limit damage, especially 

when associated with human health and safety and 

agriculture. One such provision is the resident 

Canada Goose Nest and Egg Depredation Order,

issued by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) 

in 2006 (50 CFR 21.50). The Depredation Order 

was developed after the FWS, 

in cooperation with APHIS WS, 

completed an environmental 

impact statement (EIS) for the 

management of resident Canada 

geese. Wildlife Services’ 

Record of Decision for that EIS 

supports a preferred alternative of 

integrated damage management 

and population control. The 

Depredation Order authorizes 

landowners and local governments 

who register with the FWS to destroy resident Canada 

goose nests and eggs on their property from March 

1-June 30, when necessary, to resolve or prevent 

injury to people, property, agricultural crops, or other 

interests. 

In order to conduct these activities, landowners must 

register online anytime between January 1 and June 

30 of the year in which the activity will take place 

(https://epermits.fws.gov/eRCGR). After registering, 

landowners can print confirmation of their registration 

and immediately begin their nest treatment activities. 

The registration must be renewed annually, following 

submission of an annual report of the number of 

nests with eggs destroyed. There is no fee for the 

registration. The process requires the application 

of appropriate nonlethal methods to minimize the 

extent to which eggs must be destroyed. Although a 

Federal permit is no longer required for this process, 

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Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 2

Canada Geese Nesting
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Timing of Canada Goose Egg Treatment

Initial goose nest searches should occur during March 

and April, depending on your location: Southern US 

(March 10-25), Mid latitudes (March 25-April 10), 

and Northern US (April 10-25). The best option is 

to harass geese before they set up a nest; however, 

if nests have already been established, the most 

efficient time to treat eggs is after the entire clutch is 

laid and incubation has started. Warm eggs in the 

nest indicate that incubation has started and that all 

eggs have been laid. At least 2-3 subsequent nest 

visits are usually required to ensure that all eggs and 

renest attempts are treated. The final nest search/

egg treatment typically occurs during early-mid May. 

Treatment of goose eggs in the cooler early morning 

hours is recommended to reduce stress on the birds.

Finding and Approaching the Nest

In natural areas, look for goose nests near water, 

particularly on islands and peninsulas, as well as 

along shorelines. Elsewhere, nests occur where 

there is a good view of the surrounding area with 

relative security from nest predators. The adult 

goose pair remains together throughout the nesting 

season. A single goose that appears to be “patrolling” 

an area may indicate that a nest is in the vicinity. 

As the hatching date nears, the incubating goose 

will be reluctant to leave the eggs, and will flatten 

out and extend the neck to “hide” when the nest is 

approached. In searching for the nest, it is useful 

to key in on the goose’s distinctly-colored head with 

highly contrasting cheek patch. Otherwise, the bird’s 

drab coloration easily blends into the surrounding 

environment. 

The behavior of nesting geese to humans varies 

tremendously. Some nesting geese readily flee when 

approached by humans whereas other geese will 

stand their ground to defend the nest; some geese 

will actually attack approaching humans by running or 

flying at them. Goose behavior during nest defense 

consists of geese standing erect and/or spreading 

their wings to make themselves appear larger while 

loudly hissing. The defense behavior can be daunting. 

Attacking geese will often try to strike their perceived 

nest predators with their wings and/or will bite. The 

male or gander, which is usually the bird standing 

guard near the nest (as opposed to the incubating 

goose) is the bird most likely to attack. As a general 

rule, geese in rural or natural settings are less likely 

to attack humans than geese in suburban or urban 

habitats. When geese are habituated to people and 

have little fear of them, they often attack viciously. For 

these reasons, goose nests should be approached 

carefully. It is best to conduct these activities with a 

partner. Some individuals experienced in treating 

goose nests use a life jacket, boat paddle, or trash 

can lid to deflect goose attacks at nest sites.

Nest defense behavior by Canada geese is 

encountered after the nest is located and during 

the process of moving the adult goose off the nest. 

Geese must be moved to effectively treat the eggs. 

Geese may naturally leave the area as you approach 

the nest, or you may need to encourage the geese to 

back away from the nest with slow steady pressure 

from a broom, canoe/kayak paddle, or a branch. 

Geese tend to be increasingly tenacious to the nest/

eggs as the hatching date nears. Approach the nest 

in a manner that creates an escape route for the 

geese. 

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Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 3

Nest Management is Best Done by a Team of Two People--

One To Treat The Eggs and One To Keep The Geese Away 

From The Nest
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Canada Goose Nesting Management 

Approaches

Two general approaches exist for goose nesting 

control, and both are allowed under the Depredation 

Order: destruction and treatment. The selection 

of approaches will depend on a number of factors, 

including the location of the nest, overall number of 

nests, logistics, and capabilities/preferences of the 

individual conducting the work. It typically takes no 

more than 5 minutes to destroy or treat a goose nest. 

In many cases, when a nest is destroyed, geese may 

renest in the same or nearby area. For this reason, 

periodically conduct searches of the property to 

locate and destroy/treat newly-found nests. Similarly, 

geese return to traditional nest sites and areas in 

subsequent years. It is likely that you will need to 

continue to monitor and treat goose nests on an 

ongoing basis.

Physical Destruction of Nests and Eggs

Where goose nests are located in very close proximity 

to people, near areas of high traffic, and in situations 

where geese are particularly aggressive, landowners 

may desire to completely destroy and remove the 

nest and modify the area to deter renesting attempts. 

This method is applicable where nests occur on 

rooftops, sidewalks, doorsteps, entryways, enclosed 

courtyards, picnic areas, playgrounds, and near paths 

and roadways. Destroyed nest material and eggs 

can be left in the field, buried on site, incinerated, or 

placed in outgoing trash, in accordance with local 

ordinances. The nest location should be cleared 

of all nest materials and can be covered with 

objects (overturned garbage can, wood, branches, 

etc.) so that its attractiveness as a nesting area is 

diminished. Destruction and removal of the nest is 

intended to cause the pair of geese to abandon the 

area. However, there are times when the pair does 

not leave and instead initiates a new nest nearby. If 

this occurs, destruction of the new nest is necessary. 

Integrated harassment activities after nest destruction 

may provide further reinforcement for the geese to 

leave the area altogether.

Three Egg Treatment Techniques

Three egg treatment techniques authorized by 

the Depredation Order are oiling, puncturing, and 

shaking and are most useful when the presence 

of adult geese can be tolerated but goslings are 

not desired. Treated eggs remain in the nest, and 

geese will continue to tend to the nest and incubate 

the eggs. Be careful not to handle treated eggs in 

subsequent visits to the nests since eggs become 

putrid. Contents of eggs build up with gas and may 

burst if they are disturbed or knocked together. Nest 

sites should be marked with flagging tape or other 

material to facilitate follow-up visits and reduce time 

spent having to search for previously-treated nests. 

When eggs fail to hatch, the adult geese gradually 

cease incubation and will leave the immediate area 

as the time to molt approaches. This can be hastened 

toward the end of the nesting season (May) through 

use of harassment activities. Destroyed nest material 

and eggs may be left in the field or disposed of by 

burial, incineration, or placement in outgoing trash, in 

accordance with local ordinances. 

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Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 4

Do Not Move Goose Nests 

Relocation of goose nests from one spot to 

another is ineffective, since the adult geese do 

not recognize the nest in a new location as their 

own. The nest will be abandoned, the exposed 

eggs will die or be predated, and the adult pair 

will establish a new nest in the original or nearby 

location. Moving nests is not an authorized 

activity under the Depredation Order for these 

reasons.

Essential Tools 

The following materials are needed to destroy 

or treat goose nests and eggs: data sheet, 

pen/pencil, state permit (if necessary), FWS 

registration document (includes the registration 

number, individuals permitted to conduct 

work, and the location), treatment equipment 

(puncturing tool, corn oil, sprayer, cloth, rake, 

shovel, permanent marker to mark the eggs if 

oiling is the method used), and latex gloves (if 

desired).
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In general, treatment should commence once 

incubation has begun. If the eggs feel cool to the 

touch, incubation has not commenced and additional 

eggs will be laid. In that situation, it is best to mark 

the nest location and revisit the nest within the next 

week to initiate treatment. On larger properties 

with multiple nests, it might be useful to initiate egg 

treatment as soon as eggs are found. 

Oiling—Use 100% food-grade corn oil. The oil blocks 

the pores in the eggs’ shell, and prevents further 

development of the contents. Some States require a 

pesticide license to use this method, so check State 

regulations before proceeding. Prior to oiling, remove 

the eggs from the nest and mark each egg with a 

permanent marker on both sides. For best results, 

coat the entire egg with a thin layer of oil and place it 

back in the nest. Oil may be applied by a number of 

methods:

• Dip each egg in oil and wipe to remove excess

• Wipe the eggs with a cloth soaked in oil

• Spray oil on each egg with a hand-held pump 

action sprayer

• Spray oil on each egg with a pressurized 

backpack sprayer 

Puncturing—It is not necessary to mark the eggs 

to be punctured; however, an individual may prefer 

to mark the eggs so they do not need to be handled 

during subsequent visits. To puncture the egg, hold 

it securely in your hand, braced against the ground. 

Insert a long, thin metal probe into the pointed end 

of the egg. Best results are attained by placing slow 

steady pressure. Once the probe passes through 

the shell, place its tip against the inside of the shell, 

and swirl with a circular motion. The puncturing tool 

may be an awl, ice pick, chicken/turkey basting tools, 

a turkey lacer, or any sturdy, thin metal probe. It is 

advisable to connect the tool to a lanyard or string 

with a piece of bright-colored flagging tape attached to 

assist in keeping track of it while you are working and 

traveling from nest to nest.

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Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 5

When to Treat Eggs 

In general, treatment should commence once 

incubation has begun. If the eggs feel cool to 

the touch, incubation has not commenced and 

additional eggs will be laid. In that situation, it is 

best to mark the nest location and revisit the 

nest within the next week to initiate treatment. 

On larger properties with multiple nests, it might 

be useful to initiate egg treatment as soon as 

eggs are found. 

Mark Eggs Prior to Treatment 

Two small marks on opposite sides of the eggs’ 

shell (indelible marker) will indicate which eggs 

have been treated. This will save time and 

minimize unnecessary handling of treated eggs 

during future visits. 

One Method of Oil Application to Canada 

Goose Eggs
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Shaking/Addling—Remove all eggs and place 

them on the ground near the nest. Mark one egg, 

shake it, put the shaken egg back in the nest and 

repeat the process until all of the eggs have been 

shaken. Shake each egg forcefully, one at a time, 

for 5-10 minutes, and place it back in the nest. This 

technique is very time consuming and requires a lot 

of physical effort although some homeowners prefer 

it if they have only one nest with a few eggs, and if 

they do not want to deal with the potential messiness 

of puncturing and oiling. However, it is difficult to 

determine with certainty when the egg is shaken 

enough. This treatment is the most problematic due 

to the time and effort required, and the uncertainty of 

its effectiveness.

Record-Keeping

Note-taking and record-keeping should be done 

away from the nest and immediately after the work 

at each nest is conducted. This will ensure accuracy 

in recording the number of nests and eggs and will 

increase safety/reduce stress. Maintain records of 

your activities and submit the annual report to the 

FWS that identifies the number of nests with eggs 

destroyed or treated, by month, and county. This 

report is required by October 31 each year, even 

if no nests or eggs were handled. Individuals are 

encouraged to report their activities soon after they 

have completed nest work activities. The annual 

report must be submitted electronically to the FWS 

by going back to the registration website and entering 

the report data. Comply with your State’s reporting 

requirements and maintain your records in a safe 

location. Keep records of nest locations for your future 

use, since geese will frequently nest in traditional 

locations in subsequent years. 

Egg Aging Techniques

Although the Nest and Egg Depredation Order allows 

treatment at any point during the 28 day incubation 

period, some individuals may prefer to restrict egg 

treatment to the first 14 days of incubation. The 

Canada goose “egg float test” can be used as a guide 

to determine the age of the incubating eggs. Below 

is a diagram that illustrates how eggs will act in water 

at different developmental stages, counting from the 

beginning of incubation (not from laying). Be sure 

you have a container of water with enough room and 

enough water so that eggs can float freely. At many 

sites, you can fill a bucket from the pond next to the 

nest but at some sites you may need to bring water 

with you. Place a minimum of two or three eggs in 

the water and use the diagram to determine their age. 

Remove eggs 

from the water 

and proceed 

based on the 

results. If you 

intend to oil 

the eggs, it is 

recommended 

that you wipe 

the eggs 

dry with an 

absorbent cloth 

before oiling or 

wait until the 

next day (after 

the “egg float 

test”) to ensure 

that the egg is 

completely dry.

Goslings

In some areas where nests and eggs have been 

treated on one property, goslings may suddenly 

appear during May and June. This occurs 

when goslings walk in from adjacent properties 

where nests and eggs have not been treated, 

especially where properties are connected by 

stream corridors or other greenways. This can be 

managed in future years by coordinating with your 

neighbors to treat eggs on multiple properties in 

a community-based approach. Also, fencing can 

be installed to control movements of goslings and 

molting geese, since they cannot fly.

United States Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 6

Egg is Floating and is Nearing 

its Hatching Date
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Egg Float Test Diagram

Days of incubation: 

Egg 1: 0-3 days

Egg 2: 4-8 days

Egg 3: 9-13 days

Egg 4: 14-18 days

Egg 5: 19-23 days

Egg 6: 24-27 days

This diagram depicts a cross-section through a large 

container of water with eggs of various ages floating 

inside. The line across the container represents the 

water level. Eggs at the start of incubation (number 

1 on the left), generally lie on the bottom of the 

container, clearly not floating. Thirteen days after 

incubation has started, eggs usually turn upright in 

the water (as number 3 on the Chart shows) but will 

remain at the bottom of the container. Around 14 to 

18 days of incubation, most eggs will begin floating 

near the top of the water, although they may not break 

the surface of the water.

OvoControlTM G

An additional goose reproduction management 

method involves the use of OvoControlTM G to 

reduce the hatchability of eggs. It was developed 

by scientists at the US Department of Agriculture’s 

Wildlife Services’ National Wildlife Research Center 

(NWRC) and Innolytics, LLC. The active ingredient, 

nicarbazin, was originally used as a drug to control 

disease in chickens and has now been developed 

for hatch control technology in resident Canada geese 

and other birds. OvoControlTM G interferes with the 

development of the vitelline membrane separating 

the egg white and yolk. This membrane is vital to 

the viability of the egg and without it the egg cannot 

develop or hatch. When OvoControlTM G is fed to 

Canada geese for the duration of their breeding season 

(8-10 weeks total), 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. 

Because OvoControlTM G is regulated by the US 

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and is 

a restricted use chemical, only licensed wildlife 

specialists or pest control operators are permitted to 

buy and use OvoControlTM G. Additionally, each State 

must register for, and have approved, the use of this 

product on Canada geese. Several states currently 

prohibit the use of fertility drugs in wildlife. Further, a 

depredation permit issued by FWS is necessary prior 

to use of the product. The bread-like bait is similar 

in shape and size to a large corn kernel and can be 

distributed with broadcast bait feeders or by hand. 

Once OvoControlTM G is digested and absorbed by 

the goose, it is no longer biologically available to a 

secondary species and is not harmful to geese, birds, 

other waterfowl, or people. While OvoControlTM G may 

reduce hatching rates, it has no effect on the current 

number of adult or juvenile resident geese. In addition, 

not all geese may consume the bait. Another concern 

may be associated with providing food/ bait over 

several weeks in areas where this could exacerbate 

safety problems and increase the number of birds 

already utilizing the area (near roadways, at airports, 

etc.). In this manner, OvoControlTM G is contrary to 

the integrated wildlife damage management approach 

because this method involves the feeding of wildlife 

and therefore may attract some nontarget species to 

the area who also consume the bait. Depending on 

where OvoControlTM G is purchased, the cost of this 

program is approximately $12.00/goose/season.

Additional Information

For more information, visit the Web site at http://www.aphis.

usda.gov/wildlife_damage/ or contact WS/APHIS/USDA 

at 4700 River Road, Unit 87, Riverdale, MD 20737. The 

telephone number is (301) 734-7921.

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Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 7
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Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 8

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