In a major win for Canada geese and their defenders, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has announced it will pause its controversial goose-killing program and will not issue any permits for the carbon dioxide gassing of geese this year. The decision follows a high-profile campaign led by In Defense of Animals and other advocates urging the state to adopt humane, non-lethal alternatives.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) confirmed that while the program is paused, it will instead focus on researching alternative non-lethal solutions for addressing human-goose conflicts. The move comes after sustained public pressure and opposition to previous roundups and gassings, including at Belle Isle Park and Lake Sherwood, where entire goose families were killed in past years under state-issued permits.

This is a hard-won victory for both the geese and the compassionate Michiganders who spoke out for them. Pausing this program sets an important precedent by showing that there’s a better way to handle conflicts with wild animals. Michigan’s decision has the chance to inspire more humane, thoughtful approaches across the country, not just for geese but for all wild animals.

In Defense of Animals’ National Goose Protection Coalition and local advocates launched a multi-pronged campaign to oppose the killings, including a public alert that mobilized thousands, a high-visibility billboard near I-96, urging Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to “Don’t Gas Geese” and a planned protest — complete with a giant goose costume — that has now been called off in light of the announcement. We also hosted a well-attended webinar to promote humane alternatives and spotlight overlooked pollution sources like septic leakage and agricultural runoff, which geese are too often wrongly blamed for.

This is proof that grassroots activism works. Our communities showed up — people spoke out, took action, and rallied together to support the geese. And the DNR listened to us!

Over 1,000 emails were sent to officials by Michigan In Defense of Animals supporters urging them to stop the killings. With the program now paused, advocates are celebrating this victory, but we’re also staying alert. Advocates say the fight isn’t over until humane, long-term solutions are permanently adopted and the state commits to coexistence with geese rather than conflict.

Please support our work to protect geese, who are sadly often misunderstood and incorrectly blamed for water contamination.