A New Jersey town has voted to tackle the Canada geese overpopulation through a controversial method—euthanizing them en masse using carbon dioxide. 

In March, members of the Peapack and Gladstone Borough Council made the decision to engage the services of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Wildlife Services for the culling operation. The initiative is scheduled for early summer, coinciding with the molting period when the geese are unable to fly away.

While this approach is endorsed by the USDA, it has faced criticism from animal rights activists who deem it cruel and inhumane.

Elected officials in Peapack and Gladstone, in a joint statement, characterized the goose population in a local park as an “infestation” that has been a source of inconvenience for residents for the past two decades.

Similar methods have been employed in other New Jersey towns in the past. Spring Lake implemented this strategy in 2022, while Edgewater officials did so in 2016.

Peapack-Gladstone officials emphasized that they had exhausted all reasonable and humane efforts to deter the geese from the park, which they described as a man-made development incapable of supporting a large goose population safely and enjoyably for residents.

The issue extends beyond mere inconvenience, as Canada geese are prolific droppers, with each goose depositing up to one and a half pounds of feces daily. This fecal matter is not only unsightly but also poses health and environmental risks, containing harmful bacteria and contributing to nutrient imbalances in waterways.

Recognizing the overpopulation problem, officials intend to employ non-lethal deterrents to prevent new geese from inhabiting the area.

According to the Department of Environmental Protection, New Jersey’s resident Canada goose population was estimated at 63,485 birds in 2023. The DEP attributes the high numbers partly to human activities, such as feeding the birds, which concentrate them in areas frequented by people, increasing the risk of disease transmission.

In response to the borough’s decision, a group called “Save the Liberty Park Canada Geese in Peapack-Gladstone” staged a protest at the park late last month. 

We want to know what you think. Is this an appropriate response to NJ’s geese overpopulation problem? Let us know in the comments below.