IC2088 (Revised 04/30/2026)
This information is provided to inform permittees and interested applicants about the regulations concerning Wildlife Damage and Nuisance Control Permits for Resident Canada Goose Programs. This information is designed specifically to address the regulations and the concerns of contractors, sites, commercial businesses, and public nuisance animal control agencies. This is intended to be a guide for those participating in the Wildlife Damage and Nuisance Control of Canada Geese.
Permittees may receive a current copy of this information with approved permit or renewal information. Updates will be provided if regulations change. Permittees are expected to know and understand the state regulations and any pertinent local regulations related to damage control methods (i.e., discharge of firearms, local building codes, etc.) and to act within those regulations. In addition, permittees are expected to conduct control operations in a professional manner so as to develop and foster public confidence in the integrity of wildlife damage and nuisance control.
Answers to questions not provided here may be addressed to the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Wildlife Services (USDA-APHIS-WS) Office, Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Wildlife Division Permit Specialist, or by contacting a DNR office.
The sight and sounds of a flock of Canada geese marks the passage of time, the turning of seasons, evoking deep-seated emotions, and for many, affirming perennial connections with the wild. Yet local increases in giant Canada goose populations can evoke an entirely different range of emotions. The following information describes common problems and solutions for people inhabiting areas with Canada geese.
The once nearly extinct giant Canada goose (Branta canadensis maxima) has experienced population explosions in areas throughout North America. This trend is due in part to the success of wildlife management programs and the adaptability of these magnificent birds.
Geese are herbivores and have a preference for grass shoots, aquatic vegetation, seed heads, and various grains. Canada geese usually nest in March and April. Adult Canada geese have very few predators, though raccoons, skunks, fox and crows sometimes prey on their eggs.
In general, geese have benefited from the way humans have altered the landscape. Canada geese are attracted to areas that provide food, water, and protection. Urban areas with lakes and ponds offer all the resources that geese need to survive. During the summer months, Canada geese can be a problem for some property owners. Birds often find refuge on lakes and golf course ponds, taking advantage of the lush lawns, while experiencing their annual wing molt (loss of flight feathers). Most human-goose conflict is associated with urban settings where manicured lawns are located in close proximity to water and molting geese that leave droppings and feathers on lawns, beaches, docks, sidewalks, and golf courses. Geese take advantage of large agricultural fields in fall and winter. These areas provide high energy foods, allowing some geese to stay in Michigan throughout the winter. Canada geese may cause damage to agricultural crops through consumption or trampling.
The DNR has a Canada Goose Management Program that has been developed to give private landowners (including businesses and other commercial entities) options to address their goose-human conflicts on their sites.
The best results are obtained by using a combination of several different control methods and changing tactics often to prevent geese from becoming conditioned to any one of them. In addition, studies show that geese exposed to hunting are more likely to respond to scare devices outside the goose hunting seasons. There are private animal control companies available that can be consulted for help in scaring and controlling geese. Before using any explosive devices, remember to check local ordinances, federal permit requirements, and inform your neighbors.
Elimination of Feeding: Artificial feeding can lead to large concentrations of geese as they congregate for "free handouts." Feeding causes the loss of wild instincts and can lead to nutritional imbalance. Geese also lose their fear of humans when fed, which can lead to abnormal behavior such as aggression towards humans, causing an animal/human conflict. Communities must work to abolish feeding resident Canada geese. Some local governments have established "no feeding" ordinances.
Hunting: Where permitted by law, hunting is an effective and economical tool to control goose populations. Hunting provides opportunities for friends and family to participate in an important Michigan heritage plus procure a valued, healthy food source. Michigan has established hunting seasons in cooperation with the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) that are timed to target resident geese. The annual Michigan Waterfowl Hunting Regulations Summary contains season dates and bag limits but be sure to check local township firearm ordinances before hunting geese in suburban settings.
Scare Devices: Scare devices can be a cost-effective way to repel geese when applied consistently as soon as geese arrive on your property. There are many commercial companies that sell the scare devices listed below:
Dogs: Many sites have reported success using dogs trained to harass geese. Geese perceive dogs as predators and avoid them. It is important that dogs are handled properly in order for this technique to be effective. Letting household dogs roam a property may chase geese away, but if a dog catches or harms a goose at any time, it is a violation of federal law. Also, dogs are not allowed to harass geese when they are flightless.
Repellents: Repellents can be applied on lawns to deter geese from feeding on the grass. The disadvantage to using repellents is that they are effective only over a short period, before rain or mowing reduces their impact. Remember, geese are more prone to avoid sites where repellents have been used if alternative feeding sites are available.
Barrier Fencing: Fence barriers constructed at least 30 inches high can exclude molted (non-flighted) geese from lawns in June and July. Barriers can be constructed from plastic snow fence, chain link, woven wire, string, mylar tape or chicken wire. Barrier fencing works most effectively when placed along shorelines, but it should not be used at times when young birds would be trapped on land.
Landscaping or Habitat Modifications: Making your yard less attractive to geese can reduce use by Canada geese. An unmowed 6-foot-wide shoreline buffer of tall native grasses or a hedgerow 20 to 30 inches tall can discourage geese from visiting your lawn. Allowing lawns or common areas used by geese to grow taller vegetation can also discourage geese from using these sites. Geese are especially attracted to lawns that are heavily fertilized, watered, and mowed. Studies show that fertilizing lawns increases their nutritional value to geese. Letting the lawn grow longer and not fertilizing or watering it will make it less attractive to geese.
Nest/Egg Destruction: If other methods of control are ineffective, destroying Canada goose nests and eggs may be an option for reducing local Canada goose populations. If done properly and at the right time, nest destruction will prompt Canada geese to migrate north on what is called a molt migration. Nest/egg destruction can only be done under a permit issued by USDA-APHIS Wildlife Services.
Capture, Transport, and Hold: Removing geese is considered a last resort after other techniques have been unsuccessful. This permit is only available to sites with an approved human health and safety situation. Problem geese are trapped and transported out of the area at the request of local residents and/or a local unit of government. This program takes place in June when the birds are flightless. Birds are relocated to suitable sites within Michigan.
Relocation is not an effective long-term solution for addressing Canada goose conflicts and has had limited success in reducing the number of goose complaints. Relocation provides only short-term resolution of human-goose conflicts because adult geese instinctively return to previous breeding sites. It does provide property owners with temporary relief, but the same or different birds move back into the area within a short time. Unless the attractive habitat is modified, or birds are removed from the population (via hunting), geese will return. Also, as human and goose populations grow, there are fewer places to relocate geese where the natural habitat can support them, and they will not cause additional conflicts. Many sites report that geese are back within several weeks of round up. Special permits from the DNR must be obtained for capture, transport, and holding of Canada geese.
When considering goose control methods for an area, you must consider several things: how large the problem area is, how do the geese get there, and what specifically the problem is. If geese always walk to the site, then consider exclusion techniques. If they fly onto the site, then use harassment techniques. Another consideration is size of the affected area.
The term "damage" is easily understood; however, "nuisance" means different things to different people. For some, the mere presence of a red fox in the woods behind their house constitutes an intolerable situation. For others, glimpsing the same animal would be a thrilling and rewarding experience. Education can play an important role in nuisance recognition and resolution. A wild animal that poses no real threat to the safety of the public, livestock, crops, or property should not be viewed as a nuisance simply because it exists. A public that is knowledgeable about the habits and life history of wild animals is better equipped to recognize and solve wildlife damage and nuisance situations. One role of the DNR is to ensure the well-being of the state's wildlife populations while also assuring that individual wild animals are not posing a threat to human safety or creating unreasonable property, crop, or livestock damage. As long as humans coexist with wild animals, conflicts will arise. The DNR attempts to resolve these conflicts through direct action, education, and technical assistance in cooperation with private businesses, the federal government, and other state agencies. Care must be taken to ensure that damage and nuisance control measures are necessary and warranted.
Under the authority of a Special Canada Goose Permit issued by the FWS and the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act and the Wildlife Conservation Order (WCO), the DNR administers a permit system for damage and nuisance animal control of Canada geese when legal hunting cannot alleviate problems. The permit system allows nuisance Canada geese causing damage to property to be taken during times of the year and by methods not normally allowed under the regular hunting and trapping rules.
Under the damage and nuisance control system the following types of permits are issued:
The DNR encourages landowners to increase their tolerance of Canada geese to reduce human-goose conflicts in situations where there are no human safety or health threats. The DNR recommends applicants to attempt alternate control techniques to address human-goose conflicts before they are permitted to destroy nests/eggs or capture and relocate birds. DNR encourages homeowners to learn more about non-lethal techniques including habitat modification and scare tactics to reduce conflicts. You can find out more information on alternative methods to address goose conflicts on our website: Nuisance Wildlife.
This program addresses local resident goose populations on sites. The Canada Goose Nest/Egg Destruction Program allows landowners to request a permit to destroy nests and eggs, which then encourages geese to migrate north. A copy of the approved Canada Goose Nest/Egg Destruction Permit must be supplied to any hired contractors. All individuals new to the nest destruction program must complete mandatory training prior to the issuance of the permit.
Applicant must submit a permit application for nest/egg destruction area. The lake, body of water or site must be located in Michigan.
Sites that meet the criteria below may request a permit to have geese on their lake or site captured and relocated to designated release sites. The Capture, Transport and Hold Canada Goose permit does not allow for the handling and transporting of live birds. Handling and transporting live geese may only be done by USDA-APHIS-Wildlife Services.
To receive a permit to Capture, Transport and Hold Canada Geese the site must first get approval from a DNR Wildlife Division biologist. Sites must actively participate in nest/egg destruction prior to applying for a capture, transport, and hold permit.
Permitted sites must meet the following criteria:
To receive a permit to Capture, Transport, and Hold Canada Geese, the Applicant must agree to the following:
*Note: The Capture, Transport, and Hold Canada Goose permit, does not allow for the handling and transporting of live birds. Handling and transporting of live geese may be done by USDA-APHIS-Wildlife Services Only.
Fee Structure for Capture, Transport, and Hold (there are no fees for Nest/Egg Destruction):
Permits may be issued only to those that meet one or more of the following definitions:
This will require one of the following to be submitted with your application:
*Note: The Capture, Transport, and Hold Canada Goose permit does not allow for the handling and transporting of live birds. Handling and transporting live geese may only be done by USDA-APHIS-Wildlife Services.
All applicants should read and understand the following steps involved in the application and permitting process.
Training is required for all those participating in the Nest and Egg Destruction Program and in order to be a licensed contractor within the State of Michigan. Below lists all those required to take training:
Nest and egg destruction training can be found here: Wildlife Permits.
For applicants that have multiple sites, sites must be located within one mile of each other in order to be included on the same application and permit. Information on Canada goose brood movements indicate that about 80% of broods will move one mile or less between nesting sites and brood-rearing areas.
In general, multiple lakes cannot apply for nest destruction or capture/transport/hold permits under one application. Lakes that are identified and named as separate and individual water bodies (e.g., on plat maps, USGS topo maps, etc.) must apply as individual sites in an application regardless if they are connected by channels. Likewise, lakes that have separate lake associations must apply individually.
Applicants that do not comply with the above criteria will risk ineligibility of program participation the following year.
Lake Associations must follow the Nest/Egg Destruction and Capture/Transport/Hold Requirements above. If there are lakefront landowners that do not belong to the lake association or there are multiple lake associations, all parties must be adequately notified of Canada goose control activities prior to the control activity. This includes Condominiums with multiple owners. All members must be notified of the program prior to conducting Canada goose control on the property.
Canada geese are an important natural resource and are federally protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. They can be legally hunted during hunting seasons with the proper licenses. The permitted harassment techniques and repellants described on this page are legal methods. Throwing firecrackers or chasing geese with any motorized device (on land or water) are NOT authorized scare methods. Killing geese outside of the established hunting season and disturbing nests with goose eggs present can be done only under special permit, which can be applied for only when other techniques have been unsuccessful.
Through the wildlife damage and nuisance control permit system, the DNR provides a mechanism with which landowners can address wildlife damage problems. However, the DNR is not liable for any action, or lack of action, taken by the permittee or the landowner, nor is the DNR liable for any damages or injuries caused or suffered by either party. Any control measure undertaken by a nuisance animal control operator is considered a contractual matter between the permittee and the complainant.
Each permittee must keep records of their nest/egg destruction and capture/transport/hold activities. Such records shall be reported on the DNR report form (form numbers PR2088-1 and PR2086-1) and sent to USDA-APHIS-Wildlife Services by May 9 for nest/egg destruction and August 1 for capture/transport/hold. Submission of the report is a condition for eligibility for future permits. Permittees shall allow, at any reasonable time, a DNR official to examine and inspect such records and animals in their possession.
All complaints regarding violations in relation to the nuisance Canada goose program should be forwarded to the Law Enforcement Division, PO Box 30031, Lansing, MI 48909. If immediate action is required, call the nearest DNR Office, Conservation Officer, or the toll-free RAP Hotline 1-800-292-7800. The RAP Hotline number is exclusively for reporting violations and is not a general information number.
Statutory law, quoted in WCO Section 5.55, provides the legal basis for permit suspension or revocation. Permittees should be aware that any conviction for a violation of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act or Wildlife Conservation Order, including a violation of a condition of the permit, shall result in the revocation of the permit upon action by the Department of Natural Resources. Permit suspensions or revocations are conducted by an Administrative Hearing Officer under the procedures of the Administrative Procedures Act. Persons under a hunting, trapping, or fur dealer license revocation are ineligible to obtain a commercial nuisance animal control permit for the period of their revocation.
HPAI is a virus which may be carried by migrating waterfowl and can infect waterfowl and domestic poultry, such as chickens, turkeys, quail, ducks and geese, wild and domestic mammals, and humans. HPAI viruses are extremely contagious and can cause high death loss in domestic flocks. It is important that permit holders understand that the Canada Goose Management Program can be cancelled at any time if HPAI is detected in Michigan and determined to be a high risk to wildlife, domestic animals, and humans. All permittees will be notified should the program be cancelled.
The applicant/permittee's signature on the permit application certifies that the applicant/permittee:
The regulations for Wildlife Damage and Nuisance Control Permits for Resident Canada Goose Management Programs are contained within the following sections of the Wildlife Conservation Order.
Note that sections 5.51b and 5.110 are effective from May 1, 2026 to November 1, 2026 via Interim Order of the Director Amendment No. 1 of 2026.
(1) For the purposes of sections 5.51a and 5.51b of this order, the terms in this section shall have the meaning ascribed to them in this section.
(a) "Permit" means a site permit for Canada geese issued under the authority of the department's federal special Canada goose permit.
(b) "Permittee" means a person who has applied for and been issued a site permit by the department. History: Am. 1, 2010, Eff. Jan 7, 2010.
(1) To capture, hold, and euthanize aggressive Canada geese, destroy Canada goose eggs and nests under the authority granted to the state of Michigan by the federal special Canada goose permit, a permittee must:
(a) Possess written certification of the successful completion of a department sponsored training to handle and/or destroy Canada goose eggs and nests.
(b) Make application for and be issued a Canada goose permit by the wildlife permit specialist on a form provided by the department at the fee noted in section 5.110 (4).
(c) Submit an annual report as required by section 5.54 of this order.
(2) An annual Canada goose permit shall be valid for the period from March 11 through August 31 per federal regulation 50 CFR 21.120. Failure of the permittee to comply with the permit provisions will make the permittee ineligible to receive Canada goose control permits for a period of one year.
(3) The department shall not be liable for any damage suffered by a complainant as a result of the performance of the permittee operating under the authority of a permit.
(4) An annual Canada goose permit shall be valid for the period from March 11 through August 31 per federal regulation 50 CFR 21.120. Failure of the permittee to comply with the permit provisions will make the permittee ineligible to receive Canada goose control permits for a period of one year.
History: Am. 1, 2010, Eff. Jan 7, 2010; Am. 2, 2022; Eff. Mar. 11, 2022; Am. 9, 2024, Eff. Oct. 10, 2024.
Sec. 5.110 The following fees are established for permits issued by the director:
Contact: USDA-APHIS-Wildlife Services, 2803 Jolly Rd, Suite 100, Okemos, MI 48864, 517-318-3471 or MI.Goose.Permits@usda.gov.
Contact: Wildlife Permit Specialist, DNR, Wildlife Division, PO Box 30444, Lansing, MI 48909-7944, 517-284-6210 or DNR-PermitSpecialist@michigan.gov.
Contact 517-284-9453.
Contact: Waterfowl Specialist, DNR, Wildlife Division, Lansing Customer Service Center 4166 Legacy Parkway, Lansing, MI 48911 phone (517) 648-4163.
