Canada geese in New Zealand facts for kids
Canada geese (Branta canadensis) are large birds that look a bit like a wild duck. They were brought to New Zealand in 1905. People wanted them for hunting, so they were called "game birds." But over time, these geese caused problems. They damaged important farm areas like pastures and crops.
How They Got Here
Canada geese first arrived in New Zealand in 1905. They were brought here so people could hunt them for sport. For many years, these geese were protected by a special rule called the Wildlife Act of 1953.
A group called Fish and Game New Zealand helped manage the goose population. If there were too many geese, they would sometimes remove some of them. This was to keep their numbers under control.
However, the number of geese kept growing. By 1996, there were about 40,000 Canada geese living in the South Island alone. Because there were so many, they started causing more problems for farmers.
In 2011, the New Zealand government made a big change. They decided to remove the special protection for Canada geese. This meant that people were allowed to hunt the birds more freely.
What Problems They Cause
You can often spot Canada geese in farm fields and along the rivers of the South Island. They like to eat the same grass that farm animals do. This means they compete with sheep and cows for food.
As early as 1925, farmers noticed the geese were damaging their pastures. The geese also leave a lot of droppings, which can affect the grass. Sometimes, they even cause damage to important farm crops.
Images for kids
-
A Canada goose at Lake Rotoroa in Hamilton.
