Canada Goose Removal Policies And Procedures
The removal of nuisance geese from Minnesota cities and towns requires both a
federal and state permit and is subject to Minnesota Department of Natural
Resources (MNDNR) policies. Removal, the trapping and relocation or trapping
and processing for the food shelves, is considered when other methods of
addressing the nuisance are deemed ineffective. To conduct a nuisance goose
removal within the Metropolitan Twin Cities of Minnesota, the following MNDNR's
policies must be satisfied:
The removal of geese at any location within the Metropolitan Area must be
approved by the local government unit (LGU) with jurisdiction over the site.
If more than one LGU has jurisdiction over the site, for example Lake Owasso
in Roseville and Shoreview, than all LGU's must approve the removal. Removal
approval must include the establishment of a goose population goal, for example,
25 geese on the lake in summer.
Municipalities with open space where goose hunting might be done safely must
provide an evaluation of the potential for hunting if goose hunting is currently
prohibited by a firearm discharge ordinance. (See attached hunting policy
statement)
The steps for establishing and conducting a goose population reduction program
and the agencies involved are:
- Determine whether your site is in a class 1, 2, or 3 goose hunting area.
(check city shooting ordinances and contact your MNDNR Area Wildlife Manager).
- Establish target goose population reduction levels. (MNDNR, city or
township personnel, and University of Minnesota)
- Obtain city council or township board approval of the proposed goose
management program. (city or township and University)
- Ascertain goose population and site characteristics (University).
- Prepare and approve removal contract (proposer and University of Minnesota)
- Obtain state and federal permits (University).
- Capture and ship birds in summer (University with cooperation of MNDNR).
- Monitor population to determine effectiveness of removal program (University
and MNDNR)
- Conduct additional removal as needed under contract. (University)
The services provided by the University include the design of the removal
program, public meeting participation, technical information on goose ecology
and management, humane and professional removal of problem geese, coordination
of permits and bird disposal via the MNDNR, and evaluation of the effectiveness
of the removal program.
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Created 3/1/97; last update 4/20/98.
Questions? Dr. James A. Cooper goose@fw.umn.edu
Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, University of Minnesota
URL: http://www.fw.umn.edu/research/goose/html/removal.html
© 1996 by the University of Minnesota