Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
Data are presented that show desertion and destruction, no matter what the underlying cause, account for most nest losses of Canada geese (Branta canadensis). This has important management implications, since desertion can be minimized in areas with much human activity by regulating fishing seasons and access during the nesting season. A net gain in goslings hatched was recorded from elevated structures and these biologists concluded that structures were a positive management technique, provided they were maintained annually and located in areas away from people. The authors recommended that to more closely control the harvest of Canada geese from individual breeding regions, managers should consider encouraging Canada geese to molt within the region where they hatched. This could be accomplished by restricting recreational use and banding on lakes and reservoirs used by molters during July and August. A lack of disturbance seems especially critical to molters that are just starting to use an area.