A flock of migrating Myrtle Beach geese can be an awesome sight as it beatsacross the spring/autumn
skies in their characteristic V formation. On the ground-- especially if they’re feeding on your
grassy lawn or at a favorite park or golf course– it’s a different story.
The big, hungry South Carolina birds are not likely to damage the grass with their grazing, but they travel in
noisy flocks and as they dine they leave an unpleasant reminder of their visit – their droppings.
When the flocks depart for their summer or winter destinations, some may remain behind to nest.And
as wild things do, they continue to populate (and poop) according to their nature. If it’s your
lawn they’re violating, don’t become addled (unable to think clearly; confused); consider addling
(preventing development of an egg). Natural addling occurs when a fertilized, nested egg is left
to cool long enough that the development of the embryo stops. In artificial addling, development
is purposely interrupted and outside of hunting and nest destruction, it is the most effective way
to control a local Myrtle Beach wild goose population. It is particularly appropriate where gunnery is out of
the question.
When used to control wild South Carolina goose populations, addling involves removing eggs from the nest and coating them
with oil so that the normally porous shells can’t admit oxygen to the developing embryo.The US Fish and
Wildlife Service requires that permits be obtained prior to addling goose nests, suggesting the use of
food grade liquid corn oil.
Properly done, addling has proven almost 100 percent effective. Preferred methods include applying theoil
using pump-type containers, dipping the eggs in oil, or rubbing them with oil and returning them to the nest.
Coverage should be uniform over the entire surface of the egg but even so, some embryos still survive, often
resulting in deformed birds.The use of aerosol spray oils is discouraged because the spray is less likely to
produce the coverage needed to completely shut off the air supply.
Eggs that have begun to incubate are warm to the touch andthey float in water after 14 days of incubation.
For humane purposes then, those that float should not be addled but placed back in the nest, undried.Eggs to
be addled should be completely dry and handled one-by-one to assure an even coat of oil. If you plan to addle,
keep a sharp lookout for the parent Myrtle Beach geese, which normally mate for life. Both goose and gander are very protective
of their nests, and they’re not shy about trying to scare you off.
Visit our Myrtle Beach wildlife removal home page to learn more about us.