A population model for management of Atlantic flyway resident population Canada geese

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Author(s)Beston, Julie A.
Author(s)Williams, Christopher K.
Author(s)Nichols, Theodore C.
Author(s)Castelli, Paul M.
Date Accessioned2023-11-08T21:03:19Z
Date Available2023-11-08T21:03:19Z
Publication Date2016-03-28
DescriptionThis 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
AbstractHighly 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.
SponsorThe authors have no conflicts of interest associated with this research. Funding for this research was provided by New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife, Hunter and Anglers Fund, Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration P-R Grant W-68-R, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Region 5, Atlantic Flyway Council, and U.S. Department of Agriculture—Wildlife Services. W. Anderson and N. Rein at the U.S. Department of Agriculture—Wildlife Services, and S. Slonka at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provided cull data. Thanks also to K. Guerena for sharing her data on Canada goose recruitment in New Jersey. Last, we thank the Associate Editors and reviewers who provided valuable editorial suggestions.
CitationBeston, 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
ISSN2328-5540
URLhttps://udspace.udel.edu/handle/19716/33615
Languageen_US
PublisherWildlife Society Bulletin
KeywordsAtlantic Flyway
KeywordsBranta canadensis
KeywordsCanada geese
Keywordscull
Keywordsegg addling
Keywordsharvest
KeywordsNew Jersey
Keywordspopulation dynamics
Keywordslife on land
TitleA population model for management of Atlantic flyway resident population Canada geese
TypeArticle
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