Foraging preferences of captive Canada geese related to turfgrass mixtures

Authors

Brian E. Washburn, USDA/APHIS/Wildlife Services’ National Wildlife Research CenterFollow
Scott C. Barras, USDA/APHIS/Wildlife Services’ National Wildlife Research CenterFollow
Thomas W. Seamans, USDA/APHIS/Wildlife Services’ National Wildlife Research CenterFollow

Date of this Version

2007

Comments

Published in Human-Wildlife Conflicts Volume 1, Number 2, Pages 214–223, Fall 2007. Published and copyright by the Jack H. Berryman Institute. http://www.berrymaninstitute.org/journal/index.html

Abstract

Overabundant populations of Canada geese (Branta canadensis) cause economic and safety concerns associated with collisions with civil and military aircraft. Habitat management techniques that reduce the use of airfield habitats by geese might reduce these concerns. The objective of this study was to determine if captive Canada geese exhibited a foraging preference between a vegetation mixture consisting mostly of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and white clover (Trifolium repens) versus an endophyte-infected tall fescue- (Festuca arundinacea) based vegetation mixture.