Effectiveness of a Motion-Activated Laser Hazing Systemfor Repelling Captive Canada Geese

Authors

Scott J. Werner, USDA-APHIS-Wildlife ServicesFollow
Larry Clark, USDA/APHIS/WS National Wildlife Research CenterFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

August 2005

Comments

Published by WILDLIFE SOCIETY BULLETIN

Abstract

Effective management techniques are needed to disperse Canada geese (Branta canadensis) and reduce the human–wildlife conflicts associated with high population densities. We evaluated the effectiveness of a motion-activated laser hazing system for repelling captive Canada geese. The system decreased occupancy of 8 pairs of geese on the treated subplot by 83% during habituation trials. When an additional pair of geese were added to the experiment, occupancy of the treated subplot decreased .92% during each of the 20 nights of the extended habituation test. Avoidance (conditioned during the test) remained ,80% of pretreatment levels during the 2 days immediately following the habituation test but extinguished 3 days subsequent to the permanent inactivation of the laser hazing system. The motionactivated laser hazing system effectively repelled Canada geese in captivity. Additional field research is needed to determine the spatial extent of the laser hazing system and the effectiveness of the Doppler radar motion detector for repelling wild geese.