What Can Be Done About New Jersey’s Growing Goose Poop Problem?

If you’ve taken a stroll along the Jersey Shore lately, especially in Ocean County, you might have noticed more than just seashells underfoot.

Many coastal towns are facing a messier problem: an overpopulation of Canadian geese leaving droppings across beaches, boardwalks, and park paths. I mainly see the goose poop in parks, near our bays and lakes.

Decades ago, most Canadian geese would pass through New Jersey during their seasonal migrations.

Why Canadian Geese Are Staying Year-Round in New Jersey

Now, large numbers remain all year, thanks to mild winters, abundant food sources, and well-kept waterfront lawns.

Towns like Brick, Toms River and Point Pleasant are reporting bigger flocks settling in local fields, golf courses, and shoreline parks turning green spaces into feeding and nesting grounds.

WOW! I had no idea. One goose can produce nearly two pounds of waste in a single day.

The Health and Environmental Impact of Goose Droppings

Multiply that by dozens or hundreds of birds, and it quickly becomes a slippery, smelly, and unsanitary problem. These droppings don’t just look bad; they can contain bacteria and contribute to water pollution, especially when near swimming areas or bays.

Canadian geese are federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, meaning local governments can’t simply remove them without following specific, regulated steps.

Read More: Nationwide Recall on this Popular Snack in New Jersey

Ocean County towns are trying creative ways to curb the mess. Some parks use decoy predators like coyote statues, while others employ trained dogs to herd geese away from fields and beaches.

Tips to Reduce Geese in Parks, Bays, and Shoreline Areas

There are two ways to deter geese according to lakehopatcongfoundation.org. Many towns in Ocean and Monmouth County are enforcing these two ways to help.

• DON’T FEED GEESE - "Geese will gather where they are fed and refuse to move on. Feeding geese “human food,” like bread, is not only unhealthy for them, it also hastens their digestive process, increasing defecation."
• PLANT SHORELINE BUFFERS - "One of the best and most cost-effective ways to reduce Canada geese is to modify their habitat around the lake, so it doesn’t appeal to them. Canadian geese are grazers and their favorite food is grass."

How Ocean County Towns Are Managing the Goose Problem

Canadian geese are part of New Jersey’s natural landscape, but too many in one place can overwhelm both people and the environment. Jersey Shore communities are working to find a middle ground, protecting wildlife while keeping shorelines, parks, and sidewalks safe and clean for everyone to enjoy. Watch your step!