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Killing geese — unless approved by federal or state agencies or during <br />hunting season — is prohibited, so bird management relies heavily on <br />nonlethal methods such as eliminating food sources, visual deterrents, <br />lasers, noisemakers, physical barriers, border collies and chemical <br />repellents. Some states also permit roundups, which allow professionals <br />to capture the geese and relocate them; egg addling, which involves <br />vigorously shaking the eggs to stop the development of the embryo and <br />thus prevent the eggs from hatching; and in some cases, euthanasia. <br />Rotation is key <br />As with any bird management program, La Pierre says a combination of <br />techniques is necessary for success. Each technique, while useful, has <br />drawbacks. <br />"No single technique will work 100 %, not even the dogs. You have to <br />determine what the flock is going to be most affected by, and then create <br />a program where a variety of devices are used in a rotation," he says. <br />Consider the site <br />Creating a thorough program will help prevent the geese from becoming <br />acclimated to the deterrents, but other factors must be taken into <br />account. For example, problems at a golf course cannot be solved with <br />noise deterrents because it would disturb the golfers, and state laws may <br />prohibit the use of pyrotechnics. <br />Cooper says understanding the impact of the methods being used not <br />only on the geese but on the environment is vital. What might seem like a <br />good solution to the geese problem might inadvertently impact other <br />species as well. For example, if a bird management professional creates <br />a barrier to the water with dense vegetation, it might limit geese <br />9 <br />