Area residents can learn how to legally and effectively control local Canada goose populations at a seminar March 12, at the Wesselman Woods Visitor Center in Evansville.

The free program, which runs from 9 a.m. to noon CDT, is the second of six being presented at different locations around the state in March and April by the Department of Natural Resources’ Urban Wildlife Project. Interested landowners, managers of corporate campuses, golf courses or park employees, as well as anyone in the general public with an interest are invited.

The first part of the program will cover various aspects of Canada goose management, including relevant laws, basic biology, and methods to control damage caused by geese. A demonstration on the proper techniques for egg and nest destruction will follow. Simply breaking eggs or removing them from nest is not effective because the females will just lay another clutch of eggs, so following proper techniques is vital.

The population of Canada geese in the Mississippi Flyway exceeds 1.5 million birds and is growing at a rate of 6 percent per year. Destroying eggs and nests in urban areas is helpful in controlling the goose population and reducing goose/conflict in areas where hunting cannot take place. Federal rules allow landowners properly registered at: http://www.fws.gov/permits/mbpermits/gooseeggregistration.html
to complete Canada goose egg and nest destruction on their own property.

Registrants must provide a summary report of their Canada goose nest destruction activities to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by Oct 31. Failure to report can result in privileges being revoked for the forthcoming year.

Other seminar dates and sites include March 19 at the Recreation Building inside Fort Harrison State Park, Indianapolis; March 31, at the Tippecanoe County Extension Service Office, Lafayette; April 1, at the Potato Creek State Park Nature Center near North Liberty; and April 2, at the Salomon Farm Visitors Center in Fort Wayne. All seminars run from 9 to noon, local time.

No registration is required at any of the sites. For further information, call the Urban Wildlife Biologist, (812) 334-1137 or e-mail swinks@dnr.IN.gov.