Egg Depredation Services for Managing
Canada Geese Populations

goose egg depredation

Population Control

Goose Egg Depredation

Canada geese  thrive in urban and suburban environments where natural predators are scarce and open lawns, water features and secluded rooftops are plenty. As their numbers increase, so do problems like property damage, aggressive behavior, and unsanitary conditions. One of the most effective and humane ways to control these populations is through egg depredation. 

Wild Goose Chase specializes in licensed egg depredation services that reduce geese populations over time while maintaining compliance with state and federal regulations. Our process targets the reproductive cycle, preventing the next generation of geese from hatching and settling on your property.

What It Means

What Is Egg Depredation?

Egg depredation is the practice of managing geese populations by treating or removing eggs during the nesting season. This method prevents eggs from hatching, which directly controls population growth without harming adult geese.  

This approach is recognized by wildlife management agencies, including People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), as one of the most humane and sustainable solutions for controlling Canada geese populations on commercial, industrial, municipal, and recreational properties. 

Why Egg Depredation Works

Unlike deterrents that move geese temporarily, egg depredation addresses the root cause of population growth. By stopping eggs from hatching, fewer goslings mature into adults that return to the same site year after year. Over time, this leads to a noticeable decrease in the number of geese frequenting the property. 

Properties that regularly use egg depredation see long-term benefits such as cleaner grounds, reduced turf damage, and fewer conflicts with aggressive nesting geese. 

goose egg depredation
Regulations

The Importance of Proper Licensing

Egg depredation is regulated under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which generally requires authorization before removing or destroying goose nests or eggs. Required permits and licenses vary by State and can involve coordination with State, Federal and/or Local level entities.

Wild Goose Chase handles the permitting process for our clients, ensuring full compliance with federal and state regulations. Our team is trained and licensed to perform egg depredation safely, legally, and effectively. This eliminates the stress and risk associated with handling eggs without proper authorization. 

How It Works

Our Process for Egg Depredation

Wild Goose Chase follows a proven process to ensure egg depredation is done correctly and humanely: 

01

Site Inspection and Nest Identification

We begin with a thorough property inspection to locate active nests. Canada geese are highly protective of their nesting sites, so this step is performed carefully by trained professionals.

02

Federal and State Permit Management

Permits are often required at both the federal and state level and specific permitting requirements differ by state. As a part of our service, Wild Goose Chase leads the obtainment of necessary permits on your property’s behalf to ensure work is conducted in accordance with applicable federal and state regulations.

03

Egg Treatment or Removal

Once permits are secured, our technicians treat or remove eggs according to legal guidelines. Treatments such as oiling eggs in corn oil are performed to prevent embryo development while leaving the egg intact.

04

Monitoring and Follow-Up

After treatment, we continue to monitor the site throughout the nesting season to make sure no new nests are missed. If additional nests are found, they are treated or removed as part of the ongoing management plan. At the end of the year, we submit a report to the applicable federal and states regulatory agencies on behalf of the property owner detailing the number of nests that were removed.

By using this structured approach, we provide effective population control while avoiding harm to adult geese or other wildlife. 

Markets We Serve

Properties That Benefit from Egg Depredation

Egg depredation is especially valuable for properties where geese have established a long-term nesting. Adult geese have natal and site fidelity, meaning they prefer to nest on properties where they were born (natal) and/or a property on which they’ve successfully nested (site). Typically, geese prefer to nest near sites that have water features or up high on rooftops where there is minimal predatory disturbance. By preventing new geese from hatching, these properties experience fewer problems year after year. Common properties that use egg depredation service include:

  • Office Parks and Corporate Campuses
  • Schools and Universities
  • Public Parks and Recreational Areas
  • Golf Courses and Resorts
  • Industrial Facilities and Warehouses
  • Hospitals and Healthcare Facilities
Regulations

When to Schedule Egg Depredation

Timing is crucial for successful egg depredation. Canada geese typically begin nesting in early Spring, with egg-laying occurring from March through May. The eggs must be treated during a specific window of development to ensure effectiveness. For best results, property managers should schedule egg depredation services before the nesting season begins. Our team tracks migration and nesting patterns to determine the optimal time for intervention. 

Comprehensive Plans

Integrating Egg Depredation with Other Goose Control Services

While egg depredation is highly effective, it works best as part of an integrated goose management plan. At Wild Goose Chase, we often combine this service with deterrents such as border collie patrols and laser repellents to discourage adult geese from nesting in the first place. 

Using multiple strategies ensures geese do not simply relocate to a nearby area of the same property. Our experts design a comprehensive plan that keeps goose numbers under control long term. 

Why Choose Wild Goose Chase for Egg Depredation

With nearly three decades of experience, Wild Goose Chase is a trusted leader in humane goose management. Our team is fully trained and licensed to perform egg depredation safely and legally. We have helped thousands of commercial, industrial, and municipal properties regain control of their grounds and reduce goose-related damage. 

Our clients rely on us because we handle every step, from permitting to nest monitoring, with professionalism and care. The result is a noticeable reduction in geese populations and improved property conditions. 

Client Testimonials

"The Migratory Bird Management team efforts have made our operations easier. By managing bird population and deterring birds from returning, we have reduced/eliminated the annoyances and dangers of birds affecting staff and vendors performing roof maintenance on our high rise, window cleaners propelling off the building and parkers at our open air six story parking structure. They usher you through the complexities of government requirements and do it with reasonable prices and great follow up. Any building that has birds posing obstacles should reach out to Mike and his team for assistance!"

General Manager, Colliers Sherry K.

"Migratory Bird Management offered a turnkey service, keeping us up to date with their progress throughout the process this Spring and Summer. The team provided pictures and status updates after each visit. Mike even reached out to the City to keep them in the loop on numerous occasions. In 2020 they were able to humanly remove over 2,400 nests and 13,000 eggs from the roof top of the building."

Property Manager, Kroger Real Estate Jennifer B.

"What unbelievable difference compared to the last few years!!! Three weeks into the ‘season’ we noticed a huge decline in the bird numbers. Four weeks after that the seagulls were almost non-existent. We were never ‘dive-bombed’ this year. We didn’t have one customer that complained to us about the birds. I didn’t hear one complaint from our employees about the droppings in our parking lot. Nor did they have to go home and wash their cars everyday like the last few years. We never thought seagulls could have such an impact on our business. Thank you again for solving this issue for us. Definitely money well spent !! Thank you again !!"

DWF Wholesale Florist Patrick G.

"I want to commend your entire team for the excellent work done on the installation of my new bird deterrent laser. Both Gordon and Carla were responsive and helpful in the installation process. They both are experts in what they do. Also, I must say that despite my initial skepticism about the ability of the laser to keep the geese flocks off my property, it has been 100% effective in keeping the geese away. The day before the installation of the laser, I had 27 geese on my 6-acre property. They were so bold I could not scare them away. The day after we turned on the laser, no geese. And we have not seen a single goose for weeks now. I am now free to enjoy our lake home and property without the mess and nuisance of flocks of migratory waterfowl. Life on the lake is good again. Thanks for your good work and your excellent team of Gordon and Carla. I am happy to provide a reference for potential customers of yours. I am sold on the laser."

Murphy Residential David M.

"We’ve proudly been using Wild Goose Chase at our airport since 1999! Sue and the team do an outstanding job with wildlife mitigation on our airport that has helped us in more ways than we can count. Innovation is another extremely favorable attribute that WGC has. We were the first Airport in the United States to use canines for geese control and now one of the first handful of airports to use laser technology as well. Very professional and compassionate staff that honestly cares about our clients. Their work, dedication, and passion for their mission is what make them an industry leader, nota follower."

Chicago Executive Airport, PWK

"Thank you for doing such great work all of these years and being totally responsive to our needs. It has been an easy ride, and you’ve made it easy!"

Head of Natural Resources for Outdoor Garden & Museum

Wild Goose Chase has provided reliable and effective goose management solutions for our golf course for nearly five years. We appreciate the way they work with our budget to provide the best services for the best return on our investment. Our account manager is very knowledgeable about our golf course and always provides recommendations to best minimize the goose population and issues that they cause. They continue to provide a great service without disrupting our golf operations, which is very important to us.

Golf Course Superintendent

"Since implementing the automated laser, we have seen an 80-90% reduction in the number of birds so far this year compared to this time last year. I’ve been impressed so far with the results.”

Fish Farm Manager

"Wild Goose Chase has been a great success with our geese control. Our garden has grown to a considerable height (with a lot of hand watering) and the geese don’t seem to give it a second look."

Downtown Services Manager

"KEI has successfully contracted with Migratory Bird Management (MBM) to provide our clients management of nuisance birds for quite a while now. KEI finds it invaluable that MBM offers a turnkey service, including managing and navigating the required federal permit and reporting process and forms. Mike Michalski and his team are very knowledgeable in bird behavior, bird species, and the unique challenges each present. Mike is always pro-active and keeps us and our clients well informed of their progress in managing this critical service. MBM's professional approach to protecting our client's employees, visitors and property from the hazards of nuisance birds provides a value added service that we can bring to the table for our clients. KEI highly recommends you call Mike and MBM if you are experiencing issues with nuisance birds."

President, Kujawa Enterprises Inc. Chris K.

"Migratory Bird Management was hired to assist with the goose population problem. Within a few short weeks, with the aid of the trained dogs and a remote control boat, the technicians were able to reduce the population to only a few mating pairs. Their repeated visits to the site, both day time and evenings eventually caused the geese to become annoyed and leave the site. Their methodology of irritating the birds with light, sound, and the dogs, without physically harming the geese allows for a solution that protects the wildlife, eliminated the nuisance situation in a manner that was acceptable to everyone."

Senior Asset Manager, Greywold Partners, Inc. Marilyn H.

Schedule Professional Egg Depredation Services

If geese are nesting on your property, act now. Egg depredation is one of the most effective ways to control geese populations and prevent long-term problems. 

Contact Wild Goose Chase today to schedule an inspection and discuss your egg depredation needs. Our experts will create a customized plan to protect your property and keep geese under control.