Michigan Will Not Issue Canada Goose Capture-and-Euthanasia Permits in 2026
Michigan, USA will not issue permits for or conduct capture and euthanasia of Canada goose (Branta canadensis) at any sites during 2026. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources says its director paused the capture-and-euthanasia programme in 2025 and that the pause continues through the 2026 season.
The update was published by Michigan DNR on 1 May 2026 as part of its nuisance Canada goose programme. The programme mainly addresses resident geese that remain in Michigan year-round and are responsible for many local conflicts with people.
Limited relocation remains available at critical sites
Although routine capture and euthanasia is not being authorised in 2026, Michigan DNR has received a limited permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service allowing geese to be captured, transported and relocated from sites that meet criteria for critical human-health or safety concerns.
Examples given by the department include nursing homes and medical-care facilities, fire-suppression ponds and other sites where geese can create serious health or safety problems. The state’s permit information describes capture and relocation as a last-resort measure after other techniques have been unsuccessful.
Michigan DNR also states that relocation generally provides only short-term relief because adult geese can return to previous breeding sites and other birds can move into the same habitat. The department also cites the risk of spreading diseases, including highly pathogenic avian influenza, as a reason routine relocation was stopped. For that reason, habitat modification and deterrence remain part of the management options recommended for sites experiencing conflicts.
Other control options remain
The 2026 pause does not remove all forms of goose management. Nest and egg destruction can still be authorised through USDA-APHIS Wildlife Services when other methods have not solved the problem, and hunting remains a management tool where it is legally allowed.
Michigan’s nuisance goose programme is designed for private landowners, businesses and other sites dealing with conflicts involving resident Canada geese. Because the birds are protected under both state and federal law, lethal removal, nest destruction and egg treatment require the relevant permits and authorisations.
Management
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