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Current Status:

Winter habitat of Aleutian Canada geese is primarily under private ownership and thus unprotected. Disease, especially avian cholera, and contaminants threaten the species as it becomes concentrated within limited areas. Some illegal hunting still occurs.

Achievements:

Geese that nest in the Semidi Islands, Alaska, have responded slowly but steadily to management (i.e., creating short winter grazing habitat) in California and protection from hunting in California and Oregon. Successful management efforts (e.g., control of arctic fox on breeding islands, transplanting geese to new nesting islands, and hunting closures) throughout the species' range resulted in its reclassification from endangered to threatened status in 1990. The population now numbers approximately 7,900 birds, according to the 1991/1992 winter estimate, exceeding the recovery plan goal for delisting. However, delisting has not occurred because objectives for establishing nesting populations in the Aleutian Islands, Alaska, and protecting wintering habitat have not been met.

Movements and population status of Aleutian Canada geese on their migration and wintering grounds have been monitored for almost two decades. Studies of habitat selection on the migratory and wintering grounds are currently under way. A plan has been formulated under the direction of the Environmental Protection Agency to protect Aleutian Canada geese from exposure to certain pesticides in Merced County, California.

Current Recovery Needs:

Conservation of the species' winter habitat is the primary recovery need. Monitoring of population size and movements, determining winter habitat requirements, and investigating competition with other Canada goose subspecies also are needed. In addition, areas with high disease occurrence, such as the Modesto Sewage Treatment Facility ponds, need to be managed to discourage Aleutian Canada goose use. Cooperative agreements between agency staff and private landowners need to be establathed to address increasing concern over crop depredations.

Partnerships

Department of Agriculture's Animal Damage Control Division: A hazing program was begun in the winter of 1991/1992 to discourage geese from using the Modesto Sewage Treatment Facility ponds. In 1992, only 1 bird died from avian cholera as compared to 52 birds during the previous winter.

California Department of Fish and Game: The Department maintains hunting closures for Aleutian Canada geese and manages the winter habitat on State Wildlife Areas, including portions of the Lake Earl Wildlife Area.

Humboldt State University: Data collected from 1974 to 1989 on Aleutian Canada goose movements and population status were analyzed through a Humboldt State University contract. A final report will be completed in 1993.

Recovery Plan Status:

Original plan approved 3/7/79; revised 9/30/91.