Post by Steve Sutton on Jun 8, 2010 10:21:09 GMT -5
PIERRE, S.D. – It wasn’t so long ago that Canada geese in South Dakota were an uncommon – if not rare – sight. That is no longer the case.
With the influx of water in eastern South Dakota, combined with increasingly effective agricultural practices and goose restoration efforts, Canada geese have made a remarkable comeback in the state. In fact, the impact on crops from a large number of geese in some places is problem.
“There are many areas in eastern South Dakota where farmers are dealing with crop losses due to resident Canada geese,” said South Dakota Game Fish and Parks Wildlife Damage Program Administrator Keith Fisk. “We are using several methods to alleviate crop depredation concerns, and we’re trying to reduce the resident Canada goose population to an acceptable level for agricultural producers, sportsmen, and the public.”
Fisk said GFP can use a Special Canada Goose Permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to ease crop losses. That nest work has been completed on 937 nests over 49 locations in eastern South Dakota, he said.
However, Fisk said goose depredation will still be a problem because of favorable nesting conditions this year. GFP is preparing for a challenging goose depredation season in the eastern part of the state, he added.
“We use several different methods to mitigate depredation problems,” he said. “The nest work our field staff completed is just a small part of our overall management plan. GFP has had a long working relationship with producers to assist them with limiting crop depredation.”
GFP has hired 15 interns and seasonal employees and two more permanent employees to help wildlife damage specialists with goose depredation in eastern South Dakota. They will use electric fencing, hazing techniques, food plot contracts and vegetation barriers – such as buffer strips – to help stop or lessen depredation.
“The Department will also use many shoreline areas on Game Production Areas and Waterfowl Production Areas for loafing and feeding, as well as supplemental feeding of shelled corn in those areas, to attract resident geese to public lands and away from private lands,” Fisk said.
Hunters also can play a key role in controlling the goose population by taking advantage of early goose seasons, he said.
The GFP Commission recently approved an August Management Take Canada Goose Season, from Aug. 14-29. The special season allows hunters daily limits of eight Canada geese. GFP officials hope the August season, combined with a potential increased limit of eight geese daily for the early September season and a potential limit increase in the regular goose season, will cut the resident goose population to a more manageable level.
With the influx of water in eastern South Dakota, combined with increasingly effective agricultural practices and goose restoration efforts, Canada geese have made a remarkable comeback in the state. In fact, the impact on crops from a large number of geese in some places is problem.
“There are many areas in eastern South Dakota where farmers are dealing with crop losses due to resident Canada geese,” said South Dakota Game Fish and Parks Wildlife Damage Program Administrator Keith Fisk. “We are using several methods to alleviate crop depredation concerns, and we’re trying to reduce the resident Canada goose population to an acceptable level for agricultural producers, sportsmen, and the public.”
Fisk said GFP can use a Special Canada Goose Permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to ease crop losses. That nest work has been completed on 937 nests over 49 locations in eastern South Dakota, he said.
However, Fisk said goose depredation will still be a problem because of favorable nesting conditions this year. GFP is preparing for a challenging goose depredation season in the eastern part of the state, he added.
“We use several different methods to mitigate depredation problems,” he said. “The nest work our field staff completed is just a small part of our overall management plan. GFP has had a long working relationship with producers to assist them with limiting crop depredation.”
GFP has hired 15 interns and seasonal employees and two more permanent employees to help wildlife damage specialists with goose depredation in eastern South Dakota. They will use electric fencing, hazing techniques, food plot contracts and vegetation barriers – such as buffer strips – to help stop or lessen depredation.
“The Department will also use many shoreline areas on Game Production Areas and Waterfowl Production Areas for loafing and feeding, as well as supplemental feeding of shelled corn in those areas, to attract resident geese to public lands and away from private lands,” Fisk said.
Hunters also can play a key role in controlling the goose population by taking advantage of early goose seasons, he said.
The GFP Commission recently approved an August Management Take Canada Goose Season, from Aug. 14-29. The special season allows hunters daily limits of eight Canada geese. GFP officials hope the August season, combined with a potential increased limit of eight geese daily for the early September season and a potential limit increase in the regular goose season, will cut the resident goose population to a more manageable level.