Ever had an issue with Canada Geese on your property? Canada Geese are migratory birds and are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. They are protected by federal law and are managed by the Fish and Wildlife Service. The subspecies we are most familiar with here in North Carolina that some consider a pest have a weak migratory instinct. Canada Geese that do not migrate are called residents. The resident population is regulated differently than the migratory population.