Egg-Shaking and Replacement: Egg shaking and replacement could prove to be a useful tool for controlling goose numbers in urban areas. Once an active nest is located, the defending parents must be chased off and the eggs vigorously shaken. This will stop the development of the embryo, and the eggs will not hatch. The alternative egg technique is to remove eggs and replace them with artificial eggs of the same size. Simply removing or destroying eggs will not control goose populations because the geese will often lay a new clutch of eggs. Both egg control methods are currently experimental and require a special permit provided by the FWS and the DNR.

Legal Status

Canada geese are an important natural resource and are federally protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. They can be legally hunted during the hunting seasons with the proper licenses. The frightening and repellants described in this brochure are methods sanctioned by the DNR. Throwing firecrackers or chasing geese with any motorized device (on land or water) are NOT authorized scare methods. Killing geese outside of the established hunting season and disturbing nests with goose eggs present can be done only under special permit, which can be applied for only when other techniques have been unsuccessful.

Southeastern Management Unit
(Genesee, Lapeer, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair and Wayne counties)
734-953-0241