Strategic Field Management Reduces Barnacle Goose Crop Damage

Finnish researchers develop a wildlife management strategy to protect farms.

Posted

Farmers in Finland are facing increasing financial losses due to barnacle geese, a protected species that has seen a rapid population boom in recent decades. In Northern and Southern Karelia, where dairy farms rely heavily on fodder crops, these migratory birds cause significant agricultural damage. The Finnish government has paid over $4 million annually in farm compensation programs, highlighting the challenge of balancing wildlife conservation with agricultural productivity.

A Strategic Approach to Agricultural Damage Mitigation

Researchers from the University of Turku and the Natural Resources Institute Finland have tested a wildlife management strategy aimed at reducing the economic impact of barnacle geese on farmlands. Their study, conducted in Northern Karelia, introduced a field designation system to guide goose behavior while protecting valuable crops.

The system categorized fields into three zones:

  • Accommodation Fields – Designated areas where barnacle geese could feed undisturbed.
  • Repelling Fields – Croplands where active deterrents discouraged geese from landing.
  • Normal Crop Fields – Areas with no specific management measures.

By tracking individual goose movements using GPS wildlife tracking technology, researchers observed a clear behavioral shift: barnacle geese consistently preferred accommodation fields and avoided repelling fields. This suggests that migration pattern management through field designation systems can effectively protect farmlands.

Stakeholder Collaboration: A Key to Success

The success of this crop protection measure relied on close collaboration with local farmers, whose insights into historical feeding patterns helped optimize field placements. This agricultural damage mitigation strategy demonstrates that sustainable farming practices and protected species management can coexist when backed by data-driven solutions.

As barnacle goose populations continue to grow, implementing wildlife conservation balance strategies like this could help reduce agricultural economic impact and improve dairy farm protection across affected regions.

Environment + Energy Leader