Bookmark & ShareOn January 29th the Rochester City Council reviewed information from the City staff, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Olmsted County Health Department regarding geese in Rochester.
Links to some of the information reviewed
Migratory Geese
The migratory geese are in Rochester in the September through February time frame. Migratory geese in Rochester number between 20,000 to 35,000 at their peak in November of each year. That range has remained fairly constant since 1970, but was considerably lower prior to 1970. The highest peak was 40,000 in November of 2005, but the peak numbers for 2000 through 2004 were considerably lower. Migratory geese are federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. None of the steps either agreed to be undertaken or discussed by the City Council will have any direct impact on the migratory goose flock.
Molt Migrants
According to the DNR there are approximately 3000 young adult “molt migrants” in Rochester during the summer
Resident GeeseAccording to the DNR, there are between 1,000 to 2,000 resident geese that reside in Rochester on a year round basis. This number has been increasing between 10% to 20% per year, despite recent changes in hunting regulations to permit an earlier hunting season in SE Minnesota. At the current rate of annual growth, the resident goose flock may double every 6 to 7 years if steps are not taken. Not that long ago, the number of resident geese in Rochester was in the 200 to 300 range.
These concerns about resident geese are not unique to Rochester. A number of communities throughout Minnesota have taken steps to address and reduce or at least stabilize their resident goose population. In several communities, these steps have included more aggressive approaches, such as round-ups of resident geese, than have been authorized by the Rochester elected officials.
The federal government has recognized that the management of resident goose populations has become an issue nationwide. In 2006, the Department of the Interior adopted and published 50 CFR “Migratory Bird Hunting and Permits; Regulations for Managing Resident Canada Goose Populations: Final Rule” (pdf). This rule is still is in the process of being adopted in Minnesota. The following quote is from that document and the Federal Department of the Interior:
“We believe that resident Canada goose populations must be reduced, more effectively managed, and controlled to reduce goose-related damage.”
That report also notes that in the early 1960’s there were an estimated 63,000 Giant Canada Geese, the predominant subspecies in Rochester. That number has grown to 1.5 million geese in all the Mississippi flyway states and is growing at the rate of 6% annually.
It is the hope of the Rochester elected officials that these steps taken in combination will maintain the resident goose flock at current levels or slow its growth. It may be unrealistic to assume that they would be effective enough to reduce the current resident goose population to former levels. The steps that have been listed above have had the support and concurrence of the Minnesota DNR, the Olmsted County Health Department and others as reasonable steps to take at this time. The City will be working with the DNR to monitor the resident goose population numbers to determine how effective these steps may be. There are certainly differing opinions on the relative advantages or disadvantages of having a large resident goose flock in Rochester. Some would want the City to take no steps and allow the resident goose flock to increase and double and triple in number in future years. Some would prefer stronger measures to reduce the resident goose flock to former levels. It is not an issue on which we will all agree. However, it is the City elected officials’ concern that complete inaction by the City at this time will only compound potential future concerns if the resident goose flock were to keep increasing at a rate of 20% annually. These measures will have to be annual on-going efforts to manage resident goose populations within the City limits. Controlling the urban goose population has proven very difficult in other areas, which is why the US Fish and Wildlife Service have approved the use of such a broad suite of control measures.
Links to some of the information reviewed
- Silver Lake Buffer - Frequently Asked Questions (pdf)
- Federal Register - Department of the Interior - Migratory Bird Hunting and Permits; Regulations for Managing Resident Goose Populations; Final Rule (pdf)
- Angel Wing in Ducks and Geese (pdf)
- Living with Geese (pdf)
Three Categories of Geese in Rochester
Based on information that we obtained from the DNR, there are three different categories of geese in Rochester.Migratory Geese
The migratory geese are in Rochester in the September through February time frame. Migratory geese in Rochester number between 20,000 to 35,000 at their peak in November of each year. That range has remained fairly constant since 1970, but was considerably lower prior to 1970. The highest peak was 40,000 in November of 2005, but the peak numbers for 2000 through 2004 were considerably lower. Migratory geese are federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. None of the steps either agreed to be undertaken or discussed by the City Council will have any direct impact on the migratory goose flock.
Molt Migrants
According to the DNR there are approximately 3000 young adult “molt migrants” in Rochester during the summer
Resident GeeseAccording to the DNR, there are between 1,000 to 2,000 resident geese that reside in Rochester on a year round basis. This number has been increasing between 10% to 20% per year, despite recent changes in hunting regulations to permit an earlier hunting season in SE Minnesota. At the current rate of annual growth, the resident goose flock may double every 6 to 7 years if steps are not taken. Not that long ago, the number of resident geese in Rochester was in the 200 to 300 range.
Concerns Relating To Resident Geese
The main concerns that have been raised with the City elected officials relate to the impact of the now higher number of resident geese on water quality in lakes and streams, their impact on the enjoyment of citizens for park areas, and property-owner concerns about property damage and the inability to enjoy their property. These concerns are heightened by the knowledge that unless some steps are taken, the resident goose flock will keep increasing annually and could become a much more significant problem in the future if no action is taken at this time.These concerns about resident geese are not unique to Rochester. A number of communities throughout Minnesota have taken steps to address and reduce or at least stabilize their resident goose population. In several communities, these steps have included more aggressive approaches, such as round-ups of resident geese, than have been authorized by the Rochester elected officials.
The federal government has recognized that the management of resident goose populations has become an issue nationwide. In 2006, the Department of the Interior adopted and published 50 CFR “Migratory Bird Hunting and Permits; Regulations for Managing Resident Canada Goose Populations: Final Rule” (pdf). This rule is still is in the process of being adopted in Minnesota. The following quote is from that document and the Federal Department of the Interior:
“We believe that resident Canada goose populations must be reduced, more effectively managed, and controlled to reduce goose-related damage.”
That report also notes that in the early 1960’s there were an estimated 63,000 Giant Canada Geese, the predominant subspecies in Rochester. That number has grown to 1.5 million geese in all the Mississippi flyway states and is growing at the rate of 6% annually.
Resident Geese Management - Steps Taken by Rochester
None of the steps taken or discussed by the Rochester elected officials will directly affect the migratory goose flock. However, some of the steps that will be discussed below, such as changes to shoreline areas and removal of the feeders at Silver Lake, may have an indirect effect of dispersing some of the migratory geese to other areas. The focus of the steps agreed to by Rochester officials is the resident year-round goose flock, in addition to the obligations that the City has relating to water quality.- Re-create a natural shoreline buffer at Silver Lake (pdf). The City of Rochester has a responsibility and obligation under federal and state storm water requirements to restore and maintain clean water. The re-creation of a natural shoreline at Silver Lake would consist of a 30 to 50 foot buffer of native plants that will intercept pollutants from runoff. An additional benefit from this project may be to discourage the almost feed-lot like concentration of geese at Silver Lake. We are not assuming a major decrease in the number of geese at Silver Lake, but the City elected officials believe this a reasonable step to help meet water quality clean-up goals. Design of this project is underway with planting this spring.
- Maintain native plantings around City storm water ponds. Resident geese and property-owners have been increasingly coming into conflict as more open water due to storm water ponds increases in our neighborhoods. This problem is increased when adjacent property-owners mow on the City land, especially when mowing extends all the way to the water’s edge. A buffer strip of native plantings is an effective pollutant filter and can act as a barrier to help keep geese from adjacent property. While we have seen evidence in Rochester that many of our resident geese are undeterred by native plant buffers, it appears reasonable to restrict mowing on City land adjacent to stormwater ponds both as a water quality improvement and for the value it may have in reducing geese/homeowner conflicts.
- Eliminate the geese feeders at Silver Lake. In one of our earliest communications with the DNR, it was suggested that the simplest and most cost-effective method to reduce the concentration of geese at Silver Lake would be to remove the feeders. The City elected officials and the Park Board have agreed and the feeders will be removed at the end of the current winter season. Although, feeding the geese at Silver Lake is fun for many people, it is not healthy for the geese and it has helped create an unacceptable concentration of geese at Silver Lake that has rendered much of the park area unsanitary and virtually unusable. Non-natural foods, including excessive amounts of corn, can cause disease and an unsightly deformity known as Angel Wing (pdf) in geese. It also may contribute to the increasing number of resident year-round geese in Rochester.
- Resident Geese – Egg Shaking. There is the potential for communities and private landowners to secure permits to shake resident geese eggs to reduce the potential for overpopulation of resident geese. There have been some concerns and comments over this approach and some people have believed this is going to be a widespread citywide effort. Nothing is further from the truth. The City officials have agreed to authorize the staff to work with the DNR on a permit for a specific group of property-owners at only one pond in the city. The purpose of this limited test/trial is to obtain information to determine if this is a workable approach that could be considered at additional locations in the future if the above steps do not adequately address the increasing resident goose flock population. This limited trial/test will only be conducted if a permit can be secured from the DNR under provisions that allow that activity to take place and with proper volunteer training. The city officials have noted that in the future the rules adopted by the Federal Department of the Interior may permit private landowners to obtain a permit for their own property without the involvement of the City.
- Rochester Refuge – Early Season Hunt. Under current DNR rules, goose hunting is prohibited within the Rochester Wildlife Refuge. The Rochester Refuge was created by the State DNR and the rules and regulations that apply to it are established by the State. The DNR staff, on a preliminary basis, has indicated that an early season hunt within the Refuge, consistent with the early season hunt outside the Refuge, may provide benefits in reducing the resident goose flock. The City elected officials have authorized the staff to work with the DNR on further developing that concept. Some portions of the Refuge are not within the City limits of Rochester. Changes in the DNR regulations to permit a hunt within the Refuge but outside the City would be solely under DNR control. If, in working with the DNR, a few select areas within the City are identified that could safely accommodate goose hunting, those areas would not be approved without further discussion with the City Council.
- Education – The DNR already has information posted on its website with tips City residents can use to “live with geese” (pdf). They are also developing a brochure that specifically addresses the Rochester goose population. In conjunction with the development of the Silver Lake Shoreline Buffer project, interpretive signage will be developed to explain the consequences of feeding geese.
It is the hope of the Rochester elected officials that these steps taken in combination will maintain the resident goose flock at current levels or slow its growth. It may be unrealistic to assume that they would be effective enough to reduce the current resident goose population to former levels. The steps that have been listed above have had the support and concurrence of the Minnesota DNR, the Olmsted County Health Department and others as reasonable steps to take at this time. The City will be working with the DNR to monitor the resident goose population numbers to determine how effective these steps may be. There are certainly differing opinions on the relative advantages or disadvantages of having a large resident goose flock in Rochester. Some would want the City to take no steps and allow the resident goose flock to increase and double and triple in number in future years. Some would prefer stronger measures to reduce the resident goose flock to former levels. It is not an issue on which we will all agree. However, it is the City elected officials’ concern that complete inaction by the City at this time will only compound potential future concerns if the resident goose flock were to keep increasing at a rate of 20% annually. These measures will have to be annual on-going efforts to manage resident goose populations within the City limits. Controlling the urban goose population has proven very difficult in other areas, which is why the US Fish and Wildlife Service have approved the use of such a broad suite of control measures.
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