Geese Management at the University of Richmond

Geese are a nuisance in all fifty states and particularly at the University of Richmond. For the most part, Canada Geese, Branta canadensis, have effectively stopped migrating which has led them to be a problem for the surrounding ecosystem (Handwerk, 2021). The university has taken some preliminary...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Mead, Virginia
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:unknown
Published: UR Scholarship Repository 2022
Subjects:
Online Access:https://scholarship.richmond.edu/environmentalstudies-seniorseminar/52
https://scholarship.richmond.edu/context/environmentalstudies-seniorseminar/article/1054/viewcontent/MEAD___Canada_goose_management_Westhampton_lake.pdf
https://scholarship.richmond.edu/context/environmentalstudies-seniorseminar/article/1054/filename/0/type/additional/viewcontent/Mead_Form.pdf
Description
Summary:Geese are a nuisance in all fifty states and particularly at the University of Richmond. For the most part, Canada Geese, Branta canadensis, have effectively stopped migrating which has led them to be a problem for the surrounding ecosystem (Handwerk, 2021). The university has taken some preliminary steps to discourage geese from inhabiting our campus, but none have proven to be effective in the long run. To answer the question of how to deter geese from hanging out on campus, I assessed various geese management practices with the intention that the university could potentially adopt one of the practices. Our results show that the four most likely to be pursued and most effective methods are a Border Collie Program, a Remote-control Speedboat Program, pesticide sprayed on the grass, and additional signage around the lake. This study aids in the general goal of the university to promote beauty on campus and provides concrete options of ways in which the university can continue to develop the campus. Paper prepared for the Environmental Studies Senior Seminar/Geography Capstone. Faculty Advisor: Dr. Peter Smallwood.