QUANTIFYING CROP DAMAGE BY GIANT CANADA GEESE IN DAY COUNTY, SOUTH DAKOTA, 2003

Giant Canada goose (Branta canadensis maxima) populations have been increasing steadily as a result of several management techniques including habitat management and reintroduction programs. Unfortunately, this population increase has resulted in damage to agricultural crops. To alleviate this problem, the South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks Department (SDGFP) initiated a program to reduce crop damage caused by giant Canada geese. We attempted to determine the severity of crop damage by giant Canada geese, and the effectiveness of the crop damage program in Day County, South Dakota during summer, 2003. Damaged fields were located through landowner complaints and aerial surveys. We found 70 damaged fields, 68 of which were measured, which accounted for 119 acres (48.2 ha) of damaged crops. Complaint landowners, defined as those who received SDGFP assistance, had an average crop loss of 1.3 acres (0.5 ha) per field. Landowners that did not receive SDGFP assistance, non-complaints, lost an average of 2.1 (0.9 ha) acres of crops per field. The overall average of crops lost to giant Canada geese was 1.8 (0.7 ha) acres per field. The SDGFP crop damage program appears to be successful if administered early in the growing season.