Program History
The Rockford Park District’s Goose Management Volunteer Program began in 2001 with a goal of bringing the community together to help manage the population of Canada Geese. At that time, the Rockford Park District purchased two specially trained Border Collies, Jett and Flash to herd or move geese without harming them. Flash officially retired in October 2012.
To expand the program, the Rockford Park District began looking for volunteers and dogs. Today, dozens of dogs and volunteers are out all year long helping to keep geese away from parks, recreational paths, and facilities. These volunteers and their friendly dogs help move geese from Park District property mostly from March through November.
Why Dogs?
The Humane Society of the United States approves the use of dogs to relocate urban Canada Geese. Dogs and their handlers work year-round to harass or move geese from Park District properties. Dogs are not permitted to catch, injure, or kill a Canada goose.
Meet Ben
Thanks to a generous donation, Ben, a three-year-old Border Collie was able to join Aldeen Golf Club’s goose management program in May of 2022. Ben came from Windchazers, a goose management company located in Virginia. For more information about Ben and Aldeen’s program click the link below.
Other Management Efforts
The Rockford Park District has implemented several methods along with dogs to help manage Canada geese on their properties. Some of these are:
RC Vehicles
Stop artificial feeding education
Food grade repellants
Lasers
Exclusion through fencing
Plastic scare devices
Swans
Egg addling
What does “addling” Eggs mean?
During March–May, Rockford Park District staff are busy working on population stabilization. To do this, permits from the Department of Natural Resources are obtained for egg depredation, which allows permit holders to implement a process called "addling." The Rockford Park District has 53 sites where egg depredation takes place. First, goose nests are located and flagged in the community. Eggs are then "oiled" and returned to the nest. The female goose returns to incubate the eggs, and when none hatch, the nest is abandoned. Egg depredation keeps geese from having a successful nesting season. This is one of the humane ways of controlling the Canada Geese population and is endorsed by the Humane Society of the United States.
Please DON’T Feed the Geese!
To help with the health and wellness of our geese population, please resist feeding the geese. Feeding geese also encourages geese to remain in areas like recreational paths, sidewalks, parks, and facilities. Artificial feeding, typically with bread, does not provide the geese with the proper nutrients they need. It is also likely to cause the birds to inflict greater damage to the vegetation and ornamental plants when the food is not regularly supplied. Hand feeding geese concentrates the birds making them more aggressive towards people, as they are expecting to be fed. This also makes them more susceptible to diseases, such as avian botulism and avian cholera.
ROCKFORD CITY ORDINANCE: Nuisance feeding prohibited. The feeding of any wild mammal by any means, including hand feeding or the placing or setting out of food to be left attended or unattended, which creates a hazard to public health or safety is hereby declared to be a public nuisance and to be unlawful. Offenders could face a $750 fine. VIEW ORDINANCE >
Volunteers Needed
Our volunteer program is always in need of new faces. If interested, fill out a volunteer application online or email for more information, fayemcmanus@rockfordparkdistrict.org.
Injured Geese
Due to the federal protection of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, staff of the Rockford Park District cannot touch or handle Canada geese even when injured. If an injured bird is found a licensed wildlife rehabilitator or IDNR are the only ones who can aid a Canada goose.