From A Once-Proud National Symbol to a Current Day Nuisance
How did this once revered and protected wildlife species become such a pest?
The Canada Goose, Branta Canadensis Maxima, was at one time a rare wildlife species. A larger-sized member of the Canada Goose family, this species is known for its characteristic markings – a long black neck and white cheek patches, with a brown feathered body with a paler chest. Its black feet and legs stand out from the white undertail. Canada Geese's migration patterns would signal the change of seasons, with their flying "V" formation and distinctive "honking" call announcing the arrival of spring and fall annually.
In the early part of the 20th century, the Canada Goose became almost extinct, which brought it under the protection of an international treaty -- the Migratory Birds Convention Act. Signed in 1916 between Canada and the United States (and updated in 1994), this treaty provides for the protection and conservation of migratory birds. The Act prohibits people from harming birds, except under specified conditions. Canada Geese's rarity and vulnerability made it a cherished species, so much so that the bird was proudly celebrated as a Canadian cultural icon.
Breeding Programs led to Overpopulation and Changing Migratory Patterns
According to the Birds of North America Online (a reference work published by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology), efforts to re-establish the dwindling species through breeding programs in the USA and Canada beginning in the 1970s, succeeded beyond expectations, sometimes leading to overpopulation and other unintended consequences. Typically, Canada Geese fly back to nest where they hatched in the northern reaches of Canada. But these newer populations have no such early life memories. The Canadian government says geese still breed in Canada's traditional sub-Arctic areas and continue to migrate south to the relatively balmy United States in the winter, mingling with the locally bred birds. The overflow from newly overcrowded regions has resulted in a southward expansion of the normal breeding range, with year-round residency in parts of Canada and the US.1
Canada Geese's growing population is causing a crisis by wreaking havoc for property owners, farmers, golf courses, and municipalities. These voracious eaters can ruin crops and strip grasslands bare. The average Canada Goose produces 3 pounds of fecal matter per day. Gathering in large flocks, Canada Geese can pollute the ground and potentially contaminate the water supply with their abundant waste. Today, the sight of this once revered Canadian treasure now conjures up thoughts of negativity and nuisance.
The Landscape Defense TM Systems mission is to help landowners defend their property against the exploding Canada Geese population. Our system protects residential, commercial, and recreational properties against Canada Geese's attack through a discrete, precisely targeted ambush that uses advanced technology to detect and deter winged intruders before returning underground.
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