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Canada Geese Nesting Season Has Arrived: Understand Their Behavior!

Feb 02, 2023

Canada Geese are ahead of schedule this year with a confirmed nest and eggs already! This is several weeks early due to the milder temperatures.

Geese usually start to establish their nesting territory around Valentine's day. The behavior they show during this time would be aggressively guarding their eventual nest. Nests can be found in mulch beds, ornamental grass tufts, on flat roofs and in parking lot islands. A pair will typically nest within 5 feet of the previous year's nest, so they do try to nest where they have had success in the past. Geese generally mate for life and can hatch up to 13 eggs. The female will lay the clutch of eggs and start incubation by sitting on them for up to 28-32 days. We normally see young hatched in mid to late March-May. Most goslings are flighted around August as it takes their feathers this long to develop. During this time, you may see loose feathers littering the ground and you cannot think of removing a birds nest . Those loose feathers are from the adult geese who are also gaining new flight feathers. Only once the geese are fully flighted and the nest is vacated will the aggressive behavior stop. So a pair of nesting geese could potentially provide 6 months of aggressive behavior, mess and inconvenience!!

The photo of the goose with the mangled looking wings is suffering from Angel Wing, a condition caused by human feeding. Although people have good intentions, the food provided (bread in most cases) has high levels of sugars and carbohydrates, which causes the joint to grow improperly and affects their primary flight feathers. Unfortunately,, this condion is permanent and this goose will not be able to fly again. TLC Wildlife Management specializes in humane, biology based mitigation of Canada Geese from residential and commercial properties. If you have a flock or pairs of geese on your property, we would advise a site visit and assessment to determine the best mitigation approach.. TLC Wildlife Management can offer service plans to harass and discourage this aggressive behavior as well as future nesting or birds in vents remove. We can offer an integrated plan suited to your specific needs and employ a number of methods to ensure long-term success. If you have nesting geese, or geese spending more and more time in areas you would prefer they wouldn't, call today! Now is the time to set up a mitigation plan for the best outcomes, before nests are established and eggs have appeared.

By 7081414180 10 Apr, 2024
As the weather warms and flowers bloom, wildlife also springs into action, often giving birth to their young in the spring and early summer. TLC Wildlife Management knows that baby season is a critical time for many species. Unfortunately, it's also a time homeowners and business owners trying to get rid of unwanted visitors can look to traditional trapping companies.... but standard trapping practices can have tragic and devastating consequences! Trapping wildlife during baby season poses a significant risk of separating young animals from their mothers. Many wildlife species, from raccoons and squirrels to rabbits and birds, rely heavily on maternal care during the early weeks of life. When a mother is trapped and removed, her babies are left defenseless, facing hunger, dehydration, and predation. One of the most common scenarios during baby season is the trapping of adult female animals, such as raccoons or squirrels, without realizing they have dependent young nearby. These babies, unable to survive on their own, are left behind, leading to a tragic outcome that will pose additional problems for the property owner as well. No one wants to deal with the smell of decomposing animals inside a wall or attic space, which can last for several weeks! Moreover, trapping and removing wildlife without considering the presence of babies can have broader ecological impacts. Many wildlife species play crucial roles in their ecosystems, from seed dispersal to insect control. Removing them disrupts these delicate balances, potentially leading to unintended consequences for other wildlife and plant species. So, what can be done to avoid these dangers during baby season? The key lies in employing humane and wildlife-friendly management practices. TLC Wildlife Management NEVER utilizes traps to remove wildlife. Instead, we use humane exclusion methods that allow animals to leave on their own but prevent them from re-entering. We do a full interior and exterior inspection of the property with photos, looking in any area that may be a good area for denning and take special care to ensure that no offspring are left behind. Depending on the species, we may use a reuniting box located on the outside of the property to allow the mother to return to collect her babies and move them to an already set up secondary denning location. Other times we educate property owners on the benefits of waiting for nature to take its course, knowing that the babies will likely be moving out on their own within a few weeks. TLC will then return to install custom materials to prevent mom returning to use the same area in the future. In this way we ensure a SAFE, HUMANE, and PERMANENT solution to wildlife conflicts not only during baby season, but all year long. Ultimately, we believe the goal should be to coexist with wildlife peacefully, respecting their role in our ecosystems and ensuring their well-being, especially during critical times like baby season. By choosing humane and informed practices, we can protect wildlife families and help maintain the balance of nature for generations to come, while ensuring your property is free from unwanted guests.
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