Proceedings of the Vertebrate Pest Conference

Over 2.2 million geese rely on California’s Central Valley for critical wintering habitat during the non-breeding season, with 80% over-wintering in the Sacramento Valley region. The wintering goose population has nearly doubled compared to estimates reported in 2006; notably, lesser snow geese (Anser caerulescens caerulescens) make up over half of all wintering geese. Despite changes to hunting regulations, lesser snow goose populations remain consistently high and have resulted in human-wildlife conflicts with farming and livestock operations. Damage by geese to pastures and planted winter crops is not a new phenomenon in the Sacramento Valley, but many farmers and ranchers report that the problem has dramatically increased since 2018, with damages in 2023 the worst they have experienced. To quantify the financial impact that occurred in 2023 in Yolo, Solano, and Sacramento counties, we partnered with county Agricultural Commissioners to survey farmers and ranchers about their losses and other costs due to geese. A total of 34 people responded to the surveys, reporting impacts at 54 unique sites. The total value of reported direct losses was $8.043 million, with an additional $281,900 in abatement and crop reseeding costs. A variety of crops were impacted, including alfalfa, wheat, grass hay, and triticale, although pastures received the highest amount of monetary damages due to the large number of acres that were impacted. The combination of drought impacts followed by extensive flooding in the winter of 2022-2023 likely contributed to a severe decline in typical food resources for wintering geese in the Sacramento Valley, increasing their impact on pasture and crop fields. The extent and severity of this human-wildlife conflict signals the need for coordinated and broad-based programs that address both the populations of wintering geese and financial relief programs for affected agricultural operations.