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Living with Canada Geese

Tips and Best Practices

2024-03-12 18:00:00 2024-03-12 20:00:00 America/Indiana/Indianapolis Living with Canada Geese Fed up with goose poop on your lawn or sidewalks? Join us as Jessica Merkling, an Urban Wildlife Biologist with the Indiana DNR, shares ways to manage a peaceful co-existence with Canada geese. White River Branch - WRB Community Room (Whole Room)

Tuesday, March 12
6:00pm - 8:00pm

Add to Calendar 2024-03-12 18:00:00 2024-03-12 20:00:00 America/Indiana/Indianapolis Living with Canada Geese Fed up with goose poop on your lawn or sidewalks? Join us as Jessica Merkling, an Urban Wildlife Biologist with the Indiana DNR, shares ways to manage a peaceful co-existence with Canada geese. White River Branch - WRB Community Room (Whole Room)

White River Branch

WRB Community Room (Whole Room)

Fed up with goose poop on your lawn or sidewalks? Join us as Jessica Merkling, an Urban Wildlife Biologist with the Indiana DNR, shares ways to manage a peaceful co-existence with Canada geese.

Urban biologist Jessica Merkling covers the basics of living with and managing Canada geese in urban, suburban and rural environments. This presentation includes best practices for dissuading Canada geese from an area and provides information about both short-term and long-term solutions.

From the INDNR website:

Less than fifty years ago, the giant Canada goose was extremely rare in Indiana. As a result of restoration efforts and a large increase in small urban and suburban waterbodies, Canada geese are now quite common. Many people enjoy seeing them fly in a v-formation or hearing their distinctive honk, but problems can occur when too many gather in an area.

The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) of 1918 gave the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) oversight authority to manage and regulate the harvest of migratory birds in the United States. This act makes it illegal to harvest waterfowl or other migratory birds except during the hunting season or by permit. It also prevents unrestricted egg harvesting and commercial hunting for meat and feathers. In 1999, the federal government introduced permits that could be issued to State wildlife management agencies so states and their designated agents could initiate resident Canada geese damage management within the conditions and restrictions of the permit. As such, the Indiana Division of Fish & Wildlife may issue permits for agricultural depredation and trapping activities concerning Canada geese.

A single, quick fix solution is unlikely to reduce or solve goose conflicts. Using several techniques in combination is a much more effective strategy. Short-term techniques can relieve immediate problems, but long-term solutions are much more likely to succeed in mitigating human/goose conflicts. The ultimate goal of Canada goose management is to reduce the number of conflicts, not to eliminate all geese. Canada goose management plans that are organized with an action plan, community buy-in, and time commitment are more likely to be successful. There is no single, best answer for Canada goose management.

It is best to use preventative techniques before a problem begins in an area. Once geese are established, it can become very difficult to deter them, particularly after nesting has begun. Think long-term management, not just short-term solution.

AGE GROUP: | Adults |

EVENT TYPE: | STEAM | General |

TAGS: | geese |

White River Branch

WRL_Ref@jcplin.org
Phone: (317) 885-1330
Branch manager
Linda Kilbert

Hours
Mon, Jan 20 9:00AM to 8:00PM
Tue, Jan 21 9:00AM to 8:00PM
Wed, Jan 22 9:00AM to 8:00PM
Thu, Jan 23 9:00AM to 8:00PM
Fri, Jan 24 9:00AM to 6:00PM
Sat, Jan 25 9:00AM to 5:00PM
Sun, Jan 26 1:00PM to 5:00PM

Upcoming events

Wed, Jan 22, 3:00pm - 5:00pm
WRB Community Room (Whole Room)

Wed, Jan 22, 5:30pm - 6:30pm
WRB Community Room (Whole Room)

Wed, Jan 22, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
WRB Community Room (Whole Room)

Thu, Jan 23, 10:00am - 11:00am
WRB Community Room (Whole Room)

Thu, Jan 23, 4:30pm - 5:30pm
WRB Community Room (Whole Room)
This event is full

Fri, Jan 24, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
WRB Community Room (Whole Room)

Sat, Jan 25, 9:30am - 11:00am
WRB Adult Department

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Sat, Jan 25, 1:00pm - 2:00pm

Mon, Jan 27, 10:00am - 10:30am
WRB Community Room (Whole Room)

Tue, Jan 28, 10:00am - 10:30am
WRB Community Room (Whole Room)

Tue, Jan 28, 4:30pm - 5:30pm
WRB Community Room (Whole Room)

Wed, Jan 29, 1:30pm - 3:30pm
WRB Community Room (Whole Room)

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WRB Community Room (Whole Room)

Thu, Jan 30, 10:00am - 11:00am
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Sat, Feb 01, 9:00am - 5:00pm

Sat, Feb 01, 9:30am - 11:00am
WRB Adult Department

Sat, Feb 01, 10:00am - 10:30am
WRB Community Room (Whole Room)

Sat, Feb 01, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
WRB Community Room (Whole Room)

Sat, Feb 01, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
WRB Community Room (Whole Room)

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Sun, Feb 02, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
WRB Community Room (Whole Room)

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Mon, Feb 03, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
WRB Community Room (Whole Room)
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Fri, Feb 07, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
WRB Community Room (Whole Room)

Sat, Feb 08, All day
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Sat, Feb 08, 9:30am - 11:00am
WRB Adult Department

Sat, Feb 08, 1:00pm - 3:30pm
WRB Community Room (Whole Room)

Mon, Feb 10, 10:00am - 10:30am
WRB Community Room (Whole Room)

Mon, Feb 10, 4:30pm - 5:15pm
WRB Community Room (Whole Room)

Mon, Feb 10, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
WRB Community Room (Whole Room)

Tue, Feb 11, 10:00am - 11:00am
WRB Community Room (Whole Room)

Tue, Feb 11, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
WRB Community Room (Whole Room)

Tue, Feb 11, 4:30pm - 5:30pm
WRB Community Room (Whole Room)

Wed, Feb 12, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
WRB Community Room (Whole Room)

Thu, Feb 13, 10:00am - 11:00am
WRB Community Room (Whole Room)

Thu, Feb 13, 4:30pm - 5:30pm
WRB Community Room (Whole Room)
This event is full

Fri, Feb 14, 10:00am - 11:00am
WRB Community Room (Whole Room)

Fri, Feb 14, 4:30pm - 5:30pm
WRB Community Room (Whole Room)

Sat, Feb 15, 9:30am - 11:00am
WRB Adult Department

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WRB Community Room (Whole Room)

Sat, Feb 15, 1:30pm - 3:30pm
WRB Community Room (Whole Room)

Sun, Feb 16, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
WRB Community Room (Whole Room)

Mon, Feb 17, 10:00am - 10:30am
WRB Community Room (Whole Room)

Mon, Feb 17, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
WRB Community Room (Whole Room)

Mon, Feb 17, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
WRB Community Room (Whole Room)

Tue, Feb 18, 10:00am - 11:00am
WRB Community Room (Whole Room)

Wed, Feb 19, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
WRB Community Room (Whole Room)

Thu, Feb 20, 10:00am - 11:00am
WRB Community Room (Whole Room)

Fri, Feb 21, 10:30am - 11:30am
WRB Community Room (Whole Room)