Volunteers need to help Fairfax County control Canada Geese population

Fairfax County is seeking volunteer “goose addlers” to help control the growing population of Canada geese. Addling is a humane practice, in which the goose eggs are coated with oil to prevent them from hatching.

Anyone interested in joining this volunteer effort is invited to attend a hands-on training session Monday, April 5, 1:30-3 p.m., or Sunday, April 11, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Both sessions will be held at the Fairfax County Government Center, Conference Rooms 2/3.

Most of the Canada Geese in our area are part of a resident species that has adapted to an urban environment. They do not migrate and no longer need to live by a natural body of water, says Fairfax County wildlife biologist Victoria Monroe. They can be found throughout the county. Favorite gathering spots in the Mason District area include Lake Barcroft, Bailey’s Crossroads by Route 7 and Spring Lane, Green Springs Gardens, the Hidden Oaks Nature Center, Pinecrest Golf Course, and various stream valleys.

The goose population is growing because there aren’t enough natural predators, like foxes, to control it, Monroe says. And their numbers need to be regulated because they present a health and safety hazard. Geese crossing roads have caused accidents, and their waste creates a mess in parks and streams. Since Canada Geese are protected by the federal government, it is a federal crime to kill them.