If Canada geese have become a problem on your property, plan to attend one of six programs to be presented in March by the DNR's Urban Wildlife Project.
 
Various aspects of Canada goose management, including relevant laws, basic biology, and methods to control damage from geese will be covered. A special workshop on proper techniques for egg and nest destruction follows.  Such instruction is necessary because if eggs are simply broken or completely removed, there will be no lasting effect; females will just lay another clutch of eggs.
 
The Canada geese population in the Mississippi Flyway exceeds 1.5 million and is growing at a rate of 6 percent per year. Destroying eggs and nests is helpful in controlling these numbers.

Federal rules allow landowners properly registered at   http://www.fws.gov/permits/mbpermits/
gooseeggregistration.html to complete Canada goose egg and nest destruction on their own property. Registrants must provide a summary report of their Canada goose nest destruction activities to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by Oct 31. Failure to report can result in privileges being revoked for the forthcoming year.
 
The first program is March 5 at the Clarksville Community Center in Clarksville.  Others will be held March 7, Atterbury Fish and Wildlife Area Office, outside of Edinburgh; March 19, The Garrison South Ballroom, inside Fort Harrison State Park in Indianapolis; March 25, Indiana Dunes State Park Nature Center, near Chesterton; March 26, Potato Creek State Park Nature Center, near North Liberty; and March 27, Franke Park Pavilion #1 in Fort Wayne.

Opening seminars run from 9 to 11 a.m. Workshop sessions run from 11 a.m. to noon. All interested landowners, managers of corporate campuses, golf course or park employees, and the general public are invited.
 
The classes are free. No registration is required. For more information, call the Urban Wildlife Biologist, (812) 334-1137 or e-mail swinks@dnr.in.gov.