58 Pa. Code § 147.746 - Exceptions for resident Canada geese

(a) Egg addling and nest destruction. Private landowners and managers of public lands and their employees or agents may destroy the nests and eggs of resident Canada geese on lands under their jurisdiction when necessary to resolve or prevent injury to people or damage to property or agricultural crops without the need for a joint state/Federal permit when the following conditions have been met:

(1) Private landowners or managers of public land have registered with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service at https://epermits.fws.gov/eRCGR/geSI.aspx. Each person who will be conducting the activity shall be registered at this site prior to implementing control activities.

(i) Eggs may be addled by shaking, freezing with CO₂ or oiling. If addled by oil, only 100% corn oil may be used.

(ii) Nests and eggs may be disposed of by burying or burning.

(2) Persons exercising privileges authorized by this subchapter shall file a report with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service at https://epermits.fws.gov/eRCGR/geSI.aspx no later than October 31 of each year. Failure to file a report may result in the denial of permission to addle the eggs or destroy the nests of resident Canada geese in subsequent years.

(3) It shall be unlawful to interfere with the nest or eggs of resident Canada geese without first registering with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service as required by this subchapter.

(b) Agricultural facilities.

(1) Commercial agricultural production. Persons actively engaged in commercial agriculture production may apply for a State-issued resident Canada goose depredation permit. This permit allows a commercial agricultural producer and its legitimate employees and agents to engage in the shooting or capture of resident Canada geese when necessary to prevent damage to agricultural crops and other interests by resident Canada geese. The permit will prescribe the method of taking and the number of resident Canada geese that may be taken. The permit will be valid from April 1-August 31 of the year in which the permit was issued. The permittee shall file a written report on a form provided by the Commission, regarding the activities authorized by the permit no later than October 31 of the year in which the permit was issued. Failure to file the report as required may result in future applications being denied.

(2) Application fee. An application fee of $50 in the form of check or money order shall be remitted to the Commission by the applicant at the time of application.

(c) Airports and military airfields.

(1) Federal requirement. Airports that are part of the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems and have received Federal grant-in aid assistance and military airfields may control resident Canada geese on property that is under their jurisdiction without the need for a State or joint state/Federal depredation permit if they comply with 50 CFR 21.49 (relating to control order for resident Canada geese at airports and military airfields).

(2) Unlawful acts. It shall be unlawful to control resident Canada geese on airport or military airfield property through lethal control or to destroy eggs and nests of resident Canada geese unless the participants are in compliance with 50 CFR 21.49 or are in possession of a joint state/Federal Canada goose depredation permit as prescribed in § 147.744 (relating to depredation permits for migratory waterfowl).

Notes

58 Pa. Code § 147.746

The provisions of this §147.746 adopted March 23, 2007, effective March 24, 37 Pa.B. 1311; amended November 6, 2020, effective 11/7/2020, 50 Pa.B. 6209.