An Ontario man has been fined after pleading guilty to “harassing and attempting to injure” Canada geese last year.
Ontario’s Natural Resources Ministry announced this month that Essex resident Joseph Brugge was ordered to pay Ducks Unlimited Canada $1,000 to support migratory bird management, habitat enhancement or protection near the location where the offence was committed.
On May 23, 2025, the ministry said conservation officers were contacted by the Ontario Provincial Police to assist with an investigation involving Brugge.
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“With help from the public, a conservation officer was able to determine that while Brugge was at the Belle River Marina, located in the Municipality of Lakeshore on the shoreline of Lake St. Clair, he caught a Canada goose gosling and attempted to injure adult geese by throwing large rocks and swatting at them with his hands,” the ministry said.
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“Canada geese are federally protected migratory birds, and the public is not permitted to catch them with their hands or attempt to injure them.”
Justice of the Peace David M. Horton heard the case in the Ontario court of justice in Windsor on Feb. 2. Brugge pleaded guilty to capturing, harassing and attempting to injure Canada geese under the federal Migratory Birds Convention Act.
Goose populations are wildly out of control. It’s well known and widely reported. Many parks and beaches are unusable, and private backyards are being destroyed. MNR should give this man a job not a fine.
Can we sue Canada Geese for their harassment of us??
That’s so stupid, we should get rid of those pest. That what they are pest. Every cities should have a squad to eliminate them
It’s funny that this 1 guy gets 1000$ fine but yet when I call PAWS and SALT about the 20 kids beating a goose with rocks, sticks and soccer balls in a field infront of my apartment they turn around and say “oh there’s nothing we can do about that”
Unbelievable !! The goose population is out of control and the MNR are not doing their job to manage them. Goose droppings (poop) is on playgrounds in parks, school yards, residential yards. Children can’t play outside without contacting their feces! Are parents supposed to chase their children in doors and let the geese take over? What nonsense!
Way too lenient. $10,000 would send a better message, then jail time for repeat.
If it’s a $1000 fine to harass a Canadian goose, then how much for the group lynching our Canadian mascot, the beaver? Check on YouTube for reference. It’s worth the look.
Good decision
Human garbage.
So men are charged with harassing geese, but neurologist men get away Scott free after SAing 48 women? Ok.
Not 100% accurate. You can obtain a permit from the Federal government department, Environment Canada, it is called a Scare/Kill permit. Constraints but allowed
I say drown the puke
A $1,000 fine, what a joke. The guy must be laughing at the judge. This is ridiculous. What a system corrupt to the bone.
“attempted to injure adult geese by throwing large rocks and swatting at them with his hands,” the ministry said.”
Ballsy.
I think a $1000 fine is much to light for a psychopath in training.