LINCOLN, Neb. – The Canada Goose Damage Management Workshop will be held in Lincoln, Neb., Tuesday, June 29-Thursday, July 1, 2010, hosted by wildlife damage specialists from the School of Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Populations of Canada geese in this area have been rising rapidly, creating problems such as fecal contamination of waterways, trampling crops, and airplane safety, said Stephen Vantassel, project coordinator for the Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management, based at the School of Natural Resources (SNR). Dr. Scott Hygnstrom, professor and extension wildlife damage specialist at SNR, is one of the presenters.

The two-and-a-half-day event is designed to provide information and skills to respond effectively to goose-related problems. It will be of particular interest to landscape managers, such as biologists, wildlife control officers, golf course managers or representatives of housing developments.

"This is a hands-on workshop. We’re trying to get people to touch stuff – to pull the trigger of pyrotechnics and to handle geese," Vantassel said.

The lectures will take place at the Lincoln Airport Hampton Inn. Participants will move to another location outside the city for the hands-on activities.

Class size is limited to 40 people. Registration is $485. Workshop participants will be certified by the National Wildlife Control Operators Association.

Further details and a full workshop schedule can be obtained at http://icwdm.org.

Source: Stephen Vantassel, project coordinator, Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management, svantassel2@unl.edu (402)-472-8961.

Writer: Kat Shiffler, communications associate, School of Natural Resources, kshiffler2@unlnotes.unl.edu (402) 472 6781.