Wildlife is part of our common heritage. All Lake Barcroft residents benefit from common ownership, while at the same time assuming a shared responsibility for the wildlife’s well being. The sometimes conflicting needs and interests of human residents and native residents has resulted in the development of a management plan for geese on the lake.
Why did geese become a problem?
As described on the GeesePeace website:
- In the early 1960s, the Canada Geese population was decimated, facing potential extinction.
- To rebuild the goose population, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service began a program of increasing the geese population in the United States where the geese grew to maturation.
- The program unfortunately "over succeeded" because geese tend to nest in the regions where they hatched, so many of the new-generation geese do not fly to Canada to nest, remaining instead at more-southern locations such as at Lake Barcroft. That is the problem we face today -- our geese have become non-migratory permanent residents, and so are their goslings, and their goslings, and so on ......
LBWID has provided a history of Geese management on the Lake and outlined the management strategies of the Geese Peace program.
Egg Addling (Oiling)
LBWID will continue its goose egg oiling program this year to stabilize the goose population. Coating eggs with mineral oil prevents oxygen from passing through the egg’s shell and the egg does not develop, it just stays an egg. This program has the active support of humane societies and other animal protection organizations, and is carried out using the methods established by the Humane Society of the United States and under permit of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For more information, see the GeesePeace website.
The egg-addling program will reduce the population growth of resident geese and therefore allow other techniques like Border collies and landscaping to be more effective in reducing the nuisance aspect of Canada Geese. Egg addling will be carried out using the methods established by the Humane Society of the United States and under permit of the U.S. fish and wildlife Service.
For nests on private property:
- Check your property for geese nests. Look under docks that extend over land areas on your property, as well as behind sheds and perhaps even your roof.
- If you have a goose nest on your property, report the nest to LBWID at (703) 820-1300. LBWID has the necessary permit and expertise to conduct egg oiling. However, they will not conduct egg oiling on your property without your permission. We keep an active list of properties that allow, and those that disallow, our entry to the property and periodically update that list.
- Pass on this information to your neighbors and friends in other communities. They too can be a part of the solution.
Border Collie Operations
In addition to the egg-addling program, LBA implements a Border Collie operation after the nesting season is over, in early to mid May, where adult geese without goslings are harassed (but not harmed) to "encourage" them to relocate away from Lake Barcroft; geese with goslings will not be disturbed. The Lake Barcroft Border Collie (her name is Hermione) will enter only properties whose owners have given permission. However, our experience has been that the geese recognize the Border collie and leave the property on their own once they see the Border Collie approaching on the goose barge. If you would like the GeesePeace boat to visit your area of the lake, or if you would like to volunteer with the program, get in touch with Greg Cox.