Efficacy of a laser device for hazing Canada geese from urban areas of northeast Ohio

Canada geese have reached such high numbers in Ohio that conflicts between geese and people have become a serious problem and control methods are needed. Some harassment techniques are not safe for humans and others are not working. A new alternative-long wavelength lasers-was tested for its ability to disperse geese from urban areas where they are not wanted. Nocturnal laser harassment was applied at three study areas and the results were compared with three control areas, all in northeast Ohio, where geese had been radio-collared for identification. The laser was a handheld, battery powered unit capable of producing a hazardous diffuse reflection. Laser harassment was conducted in four 5-d periods from July 2--1-January 2002. Surveys of collared geese were conducted before, during, and after the hazing period. Tracking of geese movements by radio telemetry showed that laser harassment caused geese to leave the site after a mean of 4.6 min of treatment. Over the 5 d treatment period, the mean number of geese present decreased from 92 to 14. But there was no difference in the number of geese pre- and post-harassment. Geese moved