Geese Addling Program

By Gerry Dixon -Lake Management Committee

A successful Canada Geese control program is an essential part of lake management. Data collected over the last five years with the reduction of the geese population and lower bacteria at the beaches, suggest that our program is successful. The population if uncontrolled could become epidemic. Geese mate for life and return each year to the same location to nest. Their lifespan can be up to thirty years and the offspring return to the same location each year. Two geese typically have six eggs per year and the babies have six eggs for up to twenty years. If uncontrolled the rate of population growth in 4 years is thirty-six geese, in 8 years 1,296 geese, in 12 years 1,679,616 geese, and in 16 years, 2.8 trillion geese.

Each goose can consume up to four pounds of grass per day, creating about two pounds of fecal matter daily. During June and July, they lose their flight feathers, and during this time each goose produces 122 pounds of feces, in 16 years at the rate of population, 341trillion pounds of droppings can end up in our lake. This obviously not realistic, but it does show the impact on a community. According to Ohio Geese Control, “These droppings can be a health risk and can carry Salmonella spp., E. coli, and Listeria spp. And large flocks of geese can alter the ecology of your pond and create algae problems.”

Good news: there are natural enemies that control the geese population. Bad news: these natural enemies are not normally found in our lakefront community. Therefore, a geese control program is needed in our community. Roaming Shores has successfully reduced the population through implementation of Ohio Revised Code section 1531.02. in partnership with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

The aim of the Lake Management Committee is to observe, preserve, and correct any lake problems. The geese control program is part of the Lake Management Committee objective to decrease the amount of nutrients and bacteria entering our lake. Previously, when this program was first implemented up to thirty nests were seen. Last year 13 nests were invalidated.

With the help of all lake owners, the Rome Rock Association is tracking all observed nests and recording actions taken. Please call the association at (440) 563-3170 or email the association at IT@roamingshores.org if you see any Canada geese nests. Please be informed, it is a federal crime to injure, move, or harm without the permission of the Division of Wildlife any bird or nest.

Help us to be Lake Responsible.