The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is preparing to round up and kill thousands of birds this summer after nixing its relocation program for nuisance geese last year.

“The captured euthanasia program is a new part of our resident Canada goose management program,” Kaitlyn Barnes, the DNR’s acting waterfowl specialist, told WZZM. “Our population goals are between 175,000 to 225,000 statewide. Most of the last decade, we have peaked in some years to 300,000 geese.”

After nearly going extinct in the 1960s, large numbers of Canada geese now congregate in developed areas of Michigan, from golf courses, to condo developments, to lakeside parks, leading to increasing conflicts with residents.

For years, the state relied on Michigan businesses to harass birds, and relocate large gaggles when that didn’t work. But the DNR halted the relocations during the pandemic in 2020, and again in 2022, 2023, and 2024 to prevent the spread of the avian flu.

Last fall, the Michigan Natural Resources Commission approved changes to the DNR’s Canada goose management that removed geographic restrictions on nest and egg destruction to open the practice up statewide, and severely restricted round-ups of nuisance geese that were previously relocated.

In addition, the DNR shifted to euthanasia program that contracts with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services to kill large groups of birds with carbon dioxide when other alternatives to clear them out fail.

Chris Compton, owner of Holly-based Goose Busters, told Michigan Outdoor News the change means the cost for Michiganders to deal with nuisance geese will be “more than 10 times more expensive than any contractor was to do the same work,” based on preliminary estimates shared by the DNR during a meeting with stakeholders.

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Barnes acknowledged the increased cost, but suggested many can avoid the expense by relying instead on nest and egg destruction, and other nonlethal alternatives like dogs and habitat modifications.

“It’s still going to be a lot more money than, you know, some of these other alternatives that we’re encouraging sites to try before we get to this point,” Barnes told WZZM.

Nest and egg destruction typically starts in April, and the roundups in June, when the birds are vulnerable during a flightless molting period.

“Our goal is to manage the population through hunting,” Barnes said. “We’re not looking for sites with a lot of geese, they’re coming to us because they’ve exhausted all other options, and they … need an alternative.”

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The DNR’s struggle to manage geese is tied in part to a decades long decline in hunters that’s also driving up deer numbers in the Great Lakes State. The situation is “causing big problems in suburban and urban areas of Michigan, including excessive deer car crashes … deadly car crashes, damage to homes, businesses, the environment, and major crop damage across the state,” WDIV reports.

Michigan ranks second among states for deer collision claims at roughly $130 million in damages annually, as deer-related crashes in recent years hit a decade high.

Last year, the DNR solicited recommendations for better controlling deer numbers, and many stakeholders suggested solutions that revolved largely around expanding access for hunters and efforts to bring more into the field.

Months later, the DNR proposed hunting license fee increases of roughly 50%, a barrier some have suggested could accelerate the decline in hunters, particularly older hunters who comprise the majority, many of whom live on fixed incomes. The DNR-backed legislation introduced during last year’s lame duck session would have cut the senior discount from 60% to 25%.

“Higher fees will discourage people from purchasing licenses and participating in these outdoor activities, which will lead to lower revenues for the DNR and worse conservation outcomes,” House Republicans wrote in a letter to DNR Director Scott Bowen in early December.

“We urge you to explore alternative funding mechanisms that are honest and do not place the financial burden solely on the shoulders of outdoor enthusiasts,” the letter read. “We are confident the DNR can find a balanced approach that upholds Michigan’s conservation goals without creating financial barriers for residents.”

Strong opposition ultimately killed the bill, though it didn’t stop Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s DNR from pursing the proposal through her record $86 million executive budget, which calls for nearly $30 million in increased fees on hunting, fishing and watercraft.

“I don’t know how much clearer I can make myself; if DNR leadership continues this ridiculous crusade to hike fees across the board – an action that does nothing but punish those who love the outdoors – we are going to zero out their budget,” state Rep. Ken Borton said in a statement when Whitmer introduced her budget in February.

“This is not a threat,” said Borton, a Gaylord Republican who chairs the DNR’s appropriations subcommittee. “This will be their reality if the DNR does not commit to working with us to protect access to the outdoors.”