A population model for management of Atlantic flyway resident population Canada geese
Date
2016-03-28
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Wildlife Society Bulletin
Abstract
Highly abundant resident Canada geese (Branta canadensis) cause property damage throughout their range. Effective reduction and management of these populations requires knowledge of their population dynamics and responses to management actions. We used data from New Jersey, USA, and other resident Canada goose populations to produce stage-structured matrix models for resident Canada geese from both urban and rural landscapes. We ran stochastic simulations to assess 3 management activities for Atlantic Flyway Resident Population Canada geese: harvest, nest treatment, and cull. Unrealistic harvest rates, in excess of 10% for urban geese, would be needed to reduce the urban population to target levels within 10 years in the absence of other management activities. Nest treatment to prevent hatching is less controversial than culling adults, but as many as 62% of eggs in urban areas would need to be treated annually to sufficiently reduce the mean stochastic population growth rate. Cull would be the most effective way to achieve the population goal, but current cull rates are insufficient to reduce the urban population. Although reduction of urban geese was a challenge, current management activities in rural populations appeared to be sufficient to reduce populations. We also provide a simple spreadsheet tool for managers who want to explore management options for other resident Canada goose populations by inserting relevant vital rate estimates for their populations and manipulating management activities. © 2016 The Wildlife Society.
Description
This article was originally published in Wildlife Society Bulletin. The version of record is available at: https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.618. © The Wildlife Society, 2016
Keywords
Atlantic Flyway, Branta canadensis, Canada geese, cull, egg addling, harvest, New Jersey, population dynamics, life on land
Citation
Beston, J.A., Williams, C.K., Nichols, T.C. and Castelli, P.M. (2016), A population model for management of Atlantic flyway resident population Canada geese. Wildl. Soc. Bull., 40: 106-111. https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.618