POTENTIAL CHEMICALS TO MANAGE LlGHT GOOSE POPULATIONS

Authors

John Cummings, USDA-APHIS-Wildlife ServicesFollow
Pete Poulos, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services, Operational Support Staff, 4700 River Road, Unit S7, Riverdale, Maryland 20717

Date of this Version

January 2003

Comments

2003. Pages 95-103 in M. A. Johnson and C. D. Ankney, editors. Direct control and alternative harvest strategies for North American light geese. A Special Publication of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, D.C., and Canadian Wildlife Service, Ottawa, Ontario.

Abstract

Over-abundant light geese are having long-term negative effects on the Arctic tundra ecosystem. Significant damage to native plants, increases in soil degradation and impacts on bird communities are likely to be the main consequences (Batt 1998). The extent of which over-abundant light geese reduce food and cover for other wildlife on wintering grounds and migration routes is not well documented, although anecdotal observations suggest that light geese could compete with wintering waterfowl for food, i.e. Louisiana rice fields (J. L. Curnmings, National Wildlife Research Center, personal observation).