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Violet Township Sharing Your Neighborhood with Nuisance Geese By Tommy Springer, wildlife and education specialist for Fairfield SWCD
Short of raccoons, perhaps no other wild animal has adapted to the suburban life better than Canada geese. One of Ohio’s largest waterfowl species, Canada geese were historically true migrants who visited central Ohio only in passing during their spring and fall voyages between wintering and nesting grounds and were generally considered a rare and noteworthy sight. That began to change around the 1960s when a state-led reintroduction effort, coupled with the post-war housing boom, presented this adaptable bird with ideal conditions to begin nesting and residing locally year-round. This once-rare waterfowl species is now prevalent throughout central Ohio, and the statewide population of Canada 8
geese is estimated to be well above 100,000 individuals. As with any animal, Canada geese have two primary habitat requirements: a ready supply of food and a safe place to relax, recover and reproduce. The preferred food source for geese is dense, green vegetation, and their ideal resting and nesting spots are permanent bodies of water. If these sites have open surroundings with a good view of any threats, even better. If you take a look around Violet Township, it won’t take long to discover why so many geese have decided to call it home. Retention basins near businesses and scattered throughout home developments, along with the many private ponds dotting more rural lots,
furnish an aquatic safe haven while the lush lawns and nearby agricultural fields provide an unlimited smorgasbord fit for grazing. This creation of a virtually perfect goose habitat has led to a surge in the bird’s local population. With this change in numbers, so too have public opinions shifted toward this species. A generation whose parents grew up celebrating a goose sighting now find themselves dealing with an onslaught of conflicts arising from sharing space with an animal that can be noisy, aggressive and messy. The unmistakable honk of the Canada goose may sound funny to a child, but gather a flock of several dozen who squabble consistently through the www.pickeringtonmagazine.com
