| Summary: | Resident Canada goose (Branta canadensis) populations have increased in urbanizing regions of the eastern United States, where man-made ponds and lakes surrounded by managed turfgrass offer ideal habitats. High concentrations of geese in these areas may cause feces accumulation, outbreaks of zoonotic diseases, eutrophication of adjacent waterways, and spread of turfgrass weeds. Although repellents effectively deter geese from turfgrass areas, frequent mowing (e.g., as in corporate parks and golf courses) may impact the efficacy of repellents. We tested the effect of 2 different mowing schedules on the longevity of FlightControl® PLUS (FCP), an anthraquinone based avian digestive irritant. From June 2007 to October 2008, we conducted 4, 30-day experiments of repellent efficacy on free-ranging geese at 8 sites. Sites were divided into 4 0.1-ha plots, each containing a unique treatment of the repellent (treated or untreated) and mowing frequency (4-day or 8-day). Each experimental session consisted of a 7-day pretreatment period of baseline observations and 30 days of post-treatment observations. Goose droppings were collected daily from transects in each plot, and percent of grass with FCP remaining was measured daily. Also, we tested 234 droppings for Giardia lamblia using a ProSpect Giardia EZ Microplate Assay, measured amounts of nitrogen (TKN) and phosphorus (TP) in 304 fecal samples, and observed 127 potted droppings for plant germination in a greenhouse. On average, goose use of FCP treated plots was lower than on untreated plots for 30 days. Over the 30 day period, goose use and FCP coverage was similar between treated plots mowed every 4 and 8 days. Further, the average FCP coverage on grass blades in treated plots decreased steadily from approximately 95% to 10%. None of the fecal samples tested positive for Giardia. The average amounts of TKN and TP in fecal samples were 24.2 mg/g (range = 12.6 – 55.7) and 3.6 mg/g (range = 1.4 – 8.3) of dry matter, respectively, with an average of ...
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