Ducks and Geese

According to the Department of the Interior’s U.S. Geographical Survey, the annual autumn population of ducks in the United States numbers 90 million. Populations of Canada geese have also increased tremendously in recent years, with breeding populations in the United States exceeding 1 million. These birds frequently come into contact with human beings in agricultural and urban settings, sometimes damaging property or impeding the interests of the humans with whom they cohabitate. More often, humans have moved into territory traditionally occupied by these migratory birds, making it impossible for birds and humans to live in peace. Traditionally, a variety of methods, not all of them humane, have been used to control duck and geese populations. 

Sport Hunting and Its Lethal Byproduct

While natural causes taken as a group account for 50% of all duck deaths and majority of goose deaths, sport hunting is the largest single cause of duck and geese mortality. Waterfowl hunts are a widespread practice, occurring in most states. In addition, an unfortunate byproduct of sport hunting, lead poisoning, is now recognized as a large-scale problem that results in high duck and geese mortality. The Department of the Interior’s United States Geographical Survey says:

"Lead poisoning [unlike disease]… is not confined to particular times or places… Because of the widespread distribution of spent lead shot on the bottoms of lakes and marshes and on upland feeding grounds, the potential for lead poisoning is everywhere that ducks and geese are hunted."

Ducks and geese ingest lead pellets left in their environments by sport hunters. The ingestion of even one pellet can kill a duck.

While many ducks die from lead poisoning, an unknown number of lead-poisoned ducks are also killed by hunters. A sick and poisoned duck will often leave its flock, seeking the cover of high reeds and marsh plants. Hunters easily flush out and kill these solitary ducks. Geese may also suffer a large number of hunting deaths that are attributable to lead poisoning.

In Defense of Animals opposes sport hunting not only because of its cruelty to animals, but because of the pollution caused by hunting.

Waterfowl habitat and population preservation

Although we have yet to abolish sport hunting, organizations and individuals have taken valuable steps toward preserving duck and goose populations.

Private lands contain the remainder of suitable habitat in North America. Conservation organizations acquire land and use conservation easements to preserve and improve habitat. These conservation efforts include:

• The restoration of grasslands, where ducks tend to nest.
  
  
• The replanting of forests and the simulation of forest flooding, which creates wintering habitat for ducks and geese.
  
  
• The restoration of watersheds, the lands around wetlands.
  
  
• Such conservation efforts preserve valuable duck and goose habitat. Wetlands, however, continue to disappear at a rapid rate. Waterfowl occupy land in both rural and urban developments. Below are some of the efforts undertaken to avoid conflicts with ducks and geese.

Humanely solving problems with geese and ducks

Ducks enjoy nesting in the high hay and wheat fields of farmers. Farmers can avoid killing ducks or harming their nesting sites by:

• Waiting a suitable amount of time after baby ducks have hatched before harvesting their crops.
  
  
• Utilizing a flushing bar, a device that scares ducks and other animals out of a mower's path.
  
  
• Setting aside fallow fields for ducks.

Golf courses and parks now encounter problems previously endured primarily by farmers, ranchers, and landowners. The short grass and standing water of such urban and suburban landscapes are perfect habitat and breeding grounds for geese.

Hunting restrictions exist in most urban areas. Thankfully, a number of measures exist to non-lethally counteract problems with geese. Some or all of the following measures can be taken.

• Erect low fences to restrict access to water and grazing areas. Make openings in fence smaller than three inches and at least thirty inches high.
  
  
• Construct a network of parallel lines or wires one to two feet above the surface of standing water, restricting the ability of geese to land and takeoff.
  
  
  
• Use strobe lights, shiny mylar tape, noises such as played recordings, timed sirens, or other visual and sound techniques to scare geese away from an area.
  
  
• Allow trained Border Collies or other dogs to herd geese from an area and prevent them from feeding.
  
  
• Alter the landscape to create a more lasting deterrent to geese.
  
  
• Plant native grasses and plants in place of grass. Reduce watering if lawn cannot be replaced.
  
  
• Alter straight shorelines with shrubs, boulders, and landscape level adjustments.
  
  
• Eliminate islands in ponds. Do so by decreasing water levels in order to connect islands with the shore. It is illegal to destroy goose eggs by flooding.