Frequently Asked Questions

Brentwood Park welcomes nearly 300,000 visitors each year. The health and safety of our residents, park visitors, and the long-term vitality of the park itself are our top priorities.

We began addressing goose-related challenges in 2018, starting with mitigation efforts at the Gateway Fountain. When Brentwood Park opened in 2023, our contractors alerted us that geese were causing significant damage to the new landscaping. In response, we partnered with United States Department of Agriculture – Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) Wildlife Services to implement expert-guided mitigation strategies aimed at protecting both the park’s natural environment and the experience of those who visit it.

We recognize that we could have communicated more effectively about this action, and we are committed to doing so in the future. 

This was an operational decision made by staff based on recommendations from USDA APHIS Wildlife Services as they are the subject matter experts. 

Brentwood Park is a cornerstone of the Brentwood Bound initiative — a project focused on flood mitigation, sustainability, and community revitalization. 

As part of this effort, 31 acres of former industrial land — including 25 acres of impervious surfaces like asphalt and concrete — were transformed into Brentwood Park. These impervious surfaces, such as roads, rooftops, and paved lots, prevented water from soaking into the ground, contributing to flooding and poor water quality. 

Canada Geese can overgraze lawns, erode and destabilize creek banks, damage turf and vegetation, and degrade water quality with droppings that introduce excess nutrients and harmful bacteria—issues that have all occurred within Brentwood Park. According to a handout from the Missouri Department of Conservation and the U.S. Department of Agriculture titled Controlling Conflicts with Urban Canada Geese in Missouri, “The accumulation of feces may cause increased levels of fecal coliform bacteria in the water.”

Additionally, according to USDA spokeswoman Tanya Espinosa, one concern is the potential transmission of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (bird flu), a virus that can kill domestic birds and may be passed to people in close contact with infected animals.

Prior to 2018, staff worked with contractors overseeing maintenance of the Gateway Fountain to address damage caused by Canada Geese.

In July 2018, staff provided an update on goose management solutions at the Gateway Fountain during the July Public Works Committee meeting. 

City staff consulted with the Missouri Department of Conservation and other organizations on the City’s Goose Management Program and implemented various techniques such as Mylar tape, flashing lights, allowing water to freeze, chemical repellents, and nest and egg destruction. Despite these efforts, none of the strategies proved consistently effective. 

When Brentwood Park opened in 2023, our contractors alerted us that geese were causing significant damage to the new landscaping. In response, we partnered with USDA APHIS Wildlife Services to implement expert-guided mitigation strategies.

By December 2023, the USDA recommended the use of pyrotechnics as a deterrent, and in January 2024, the Board of Aldermen was invited to observe a USDA demonstration in Brentwood Park. 

The USDA continued to implement pyrotechnic deterrents throughout 2024. In March 2025, City staff again contacted the USDA after noticing what appeared to be an increase in the goose population at Brentwood Park and resulting damage to landscaping.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) recommends a variety of tactics to manage resident Canada Geese populations, typically used in combination for best results.

• Habitat Modification
• Exclusion Tactics
• Harassment/Deterrence
• Chemical Repellants
• Nest and Egg Destruction
• Capture

Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) states that scare devices and decoys are not considered effective methods of deterrence.  

Organizations the City of Brentwood has worked with to assist with the management of the goose population:

• Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC)
• United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Wildlife Service
• Outdoor Solutions
• GeesePeace 

The City of Brentwood has worked with USDA APHIS Wildlife Services since 2023. The capture and removal of Canada Geese was coordinated with the Missouri Department of Conservation under a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Migratory Bird Permit. More information on the permit: https://www.fws.gov/service/3-200-13-migratory-bird-depredation.

According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, Canada Geese can exhibit aggressive behavior, especially during nesting season, posing risks to park visitors. They may bite or strike with their wings, and their droppings create slipping hazards and can spread bacteria and parasites that affect both human and pet health. 

Goose molting typically occurs during the summer (specifically June and July). During this period, geese lose their flight feathers and are unable to fly for 5-7 days. This is called the limited flightless period.

According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, the average clutch size of Canada Geese is 3-8 eggs. A pair of Canada Geese usually raise an average of 5-6 goslings per season. One pair of Canada Geese can become more than 50 birds in as little as 5 years. 

In September 2023, the City of Brentwood entered into an agreement (agreement can be found here) with USDA APHIS for $2,500 annually to cover the cost of operations within the city. 

Six (6) adult geese were euthanized, and thirteen (13) goslings were relocated to the Fountain Grove Conservation Area.

Approximately seven staff people from USDA APHIS Wildlife Services were on-site and completed the capture on Wednesday, June 18, 2025. City employees were not part of the actions taken during the capture. All mitigation efforts since we hired USDA APHIS Wildlife Services in 2023 were implemented by the subject matter experts.

According to the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), relocating adult geese is ineffective because they return to their original location. However, relocating young, flightless geese works because they imprint on the new area where they learn to fly.

Statement from USDA APHIS Wildlife Services Regarding June 18, 2025 Goose Capture in Brentwood, Missouri

In an effort to provide transparency regarding the goose round up that occurred in the City of Brentwood on Missouri in June 18, 2025, specifically regarding the disposition of adult geese, USDA APHIS Wildlife Services (WS) provides some additional information.  

In previous years, WS submitted adult geese removed during goose rounds ups for processing for donation. Shortly before the start of the Brentwood round up, WS became aware of a requirement to use a state or federally inspected processing establishment. In order to continue donations, WS started searching for an establishment that met all the requirements but were unable to find one in the condensed timeframe. Simultaneously, WS reached out to the Missouri Department of Agriculture, which administers state regulations for poultry processing, to find out if any other options were available to allow for the processing and donation of the adult geese.  Unfortunately, with the time constraint no way forward was identified, and the adult geese were euthanized and disposed of accordingly.  The decision on the final disposition of these geese was made by USDA APHIS Wildlife Services and is permissible based on the depredation permit provided to the agency by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.  The state agencies involved in the donation of Canada Geese to charity and WS are in discussions on a way forward to again allow for donation to charitable organizations in the future and to effectively communicate with partner agencies and cities.

The City of Brentwood was not officially informed in writing of the challenges with donating geese in 2025 or the final disposition of the geese until after the removal had occurred. 

In one of the articles posted there was a question asked if the donation was stopped due to the risk posed by Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza.  While HPAI is a concern for wild birds and poultry, in this situation it didn’t stop the donation of the captured geese and this information was mistakenly provided by WS to the reporter. WS regrets any misinformation provided and hope to correct the record by providing this background information.  

We have an ongoing agreement with USDA APHIS and will continue working with them on the Goose Management Program.

Yes. Canada Geese are migratory birds. The primary focus of the Goose Management Program is to prevent geese from nesting in Brentwood Park leading to an unmanageable goose population.

Inquiries related to the operational decision regarding the staff-driven Goose Management Program were responded to in an appropriate manner. 

USDA APHIS Wildlife services requested that any questions regarding methods and processes associated with this project be directed to them for response. 

Per Brentwood’s Cooperative Service Agreement with USDA APHIS Wildlife Services: “The cooperating parties agree to coordinate with each other before responding to media requests or work associated with this project.”