Goose Control

by Alex A. Kecskes

Geese love ponds and lakefront property. If your home has a pond or is near a body of water, you may be inundated with geese--unless you implement effective geese deterrents. Areas with mowed lawns are particularly attractive to these birds because they allow geese to see predators from afar. This gives them peace of mind to roam, trample and poop on your property. Of course, planted areas are equally vulnerable. Most geese will be looking for areas to rear her young.  A planted area offers protection for a goose, her mate and their young during incubation. It offers concealment from predators and is ideal for entire goose families to sleep, all while remaining sheltered and hidden.

There are at least 10 different species of geese, they weigh as much as 24 lbs and can be up to four feet long. Geese generally fall into two categories: Migrating geese and resident Canada geese. The latter can deposit up to a pound of droppings. They will invade your garden, squawking and trampling down flowers and plants like a heard of buffalo. They can also be fairly aggressive, chasing pets and small children. Like most bird droppings, Goose droppings can carry diseases—a real problem if you have a pool spa or fishpond.

What to do? You can’t have geese invading your property. Will bang cannons, BB guns, avicides and firecrackers do the trick? Hardly. These measures are way too dangerous or bothersome to be used in the presence of family, neighbors and pets. Luckily, there are a number of humane, rational and effective geese deterrents you can use.

For starters, there’s the Sonic Goose Deterrent. It plays actual distress and alarm calls of Canada Geese that have been recorded in their natural habitat. These calls are repeated every ten minutes. When geese hear these calls, their natural instinct is to leave your backyard post haste. The best sonic deterrents are weather resistant and can be programmed to turn off at night. They also include a built-in speaker that covers up to an acre of land. Unlike other goose sound deterrents that play high pitched ultrasonic noises, one popular goose control sonic system was developed by working with ornithologists at a major university and safe to use around animals and pets.

Another highly effective goose deterrent is the Scarecrow. This advanced motion activated device frightens geese away the minute they enter a motion sensor’s field of activation. Geese that experience the triple combo of water blast, startling sprinkler sound, and realistic looking bird-like moving head are loath to return.

Scarecrows will protect gardens, lawns, pools, spas and most any water feature. They connect easily to most garden hoses and offer over 1,200 square feet of protection that extends 35 feet out by 45-foot wide. Scarecrows are inexpensive to operate, providing as many as 1,000 "firings" on a single 9-volt battery. You can adjust their sensitivity and range to meet the specific needs of your garden, pool or spa.

The time to install and set up goose deterrents is now, before the geese arrive and settle in your home garden. So plan ahead, evaluate your garden, pools, spas and water features. Get the right goose deterrent for your needs and let someone else worry about geese invading their garden.

by Terra Anders

Residential lakeside homes are sought after for their wonderful views, and temperate climates.  They also often have to deal with pest birds, like geese.  Homes that have large lawns with a clear line of vision from the grass to the shoreline may find geese settling there in increasing numbers.  Geese are grazers, so they like to waddle around snacking on grass and seeds in the lawn. Large groups of geese can be seen settled on lawns, sunning and preening themselves while keeping an eye out for predators. These habits make a large grassy area with a fast, visible escape route to the water, a sought after commodity for geese. As beautiful as they are to look at, these large birds soon wear out their welcome. They can quickly increase in numbers, fouling the grass, sand or boat docks with their droppings. 

The lovely Canada Goose is quite prolific, starting their reproductive life at about 2 years of age.  An average goose couple can produce about four offspring each year.  Since the geese live to be about ten or eleven years, that means that just one pair of geese and their offsprings alone can increase the gaggle to several hundred in just a few years!  If homeowners have not built in well-planned goose deterrents, the mess left by the geese families can depreciate the value of the property considerably.

Hunting geese as a means of controlling the population is frowned upon by many, it is actually a realistic means of controlling goose populations in some areas.  It is allowed in some states, but only under very controlled conditions.  Never shoot Canadian Geese on a property before first checking with the local Department of Fish and Wildlife authorities.  They can provide hunting limitations, removal guidelines and rules that should be followed without compromise.

Actually, some basic landscaping tips and a couple of easy goose control methods can be employed to keep the geese population in check and property cleaner, safer and more pleasant. Geese look for three main things when selecting their long-term residence: safety, food and adequate tall water grasses for nesting. Any kind of effective geese deterrent plan must address all three of these.

Goose-Resistant Landscaping: Making your shoreline less attractive to geese, but still a lovely view for humans isn’t as tough as it wounds. Eliminating the clear view line from grass to water is probably the most effective landscaping technique.  This can be done by setting up a physical barrier of some kind between water and grass. Wire mesh or polyurethane bird netting, even a white picket fence will work as long as the mesh or slat distance is no larger than 3 inches, and fences are at least 30 inches high.  Walking geese will not be happy with this.  If a more natural barrier is preferred, consider a very dense decorative hedge or long patch of wildflowers of no less than thirty inches high.  The barrier should be 20-30 feet wide and placed along the shoreline, then reaching back along each side of the lawn.  Any cattails or tall water grasses can remain on the opposite side of the barrier to help keep birds away from the lawn.

Motion Activated Sprinklers: What about those geese that fly in and land on the lawn?  Not to worry, the key is to make them as uncomfortable as possible so they won’t stay.  Sudden, unexpected water bursts into the large open lawn area can be a surprisingly useful geese deterrent.  Motion sensors detect when a bird is within 35 feet of the sensor, activating a water burst sprinkler system that shoots H20 up to 35 feet out and 45 feet across. Geese are unable to settle down and will take their friends and move along quickly.

Lawns that fail the goose taste test:  Geese that have already settled in will need more coaxing to leave.  Spreading non-toxic goose repellent over the lawn (or even along the shoreline) is another useful deterrent. As the geese snack, they eat the grape extract which irritates the nerves in the bird’s nasal passages and other mucous membranes. It is vexing to the geese and they will soon realize there are no more good eats there. The concentrated spray is mixed with water and dispersed using a standard hand-held sprayer.  Mow the law before treating it and re-treat about every four weeks to maintain.

Once their sense of safety has been removed by the landscaping; the nesting areas have been eliminated; and their feeding area is contaminated, the pest geese will leave in search of a more inviting home. Goose control can be environmentally friendly and still work to keep birds away from private property.

by Terra Anders

Many landowners spend a good deal of time and energy on bird prevention or removal.
Geese, for example, are very social creatures and can commonly be found hanging out with their family and friends at docks, golf courses, park areas, wetlands, marshes, or residential lakeside homes. They are also prolific breeders, so even a small manageable group of geese can become a whole gaggle in a few short years. These birds are notoriously messy, leaving unsightly and unsanitary fecal droppings all over.  In addition to introducing possible parasites and disease, the feces can be difficult to remove and eats away at the protective coatings on vehicles, boats, decks and buildings.  This can result in a real problem for property owners and sends them seeking effective goose deterrents. 

If geese have already settled in to stay on your property, they can be motivated to leave by making the grazing area less palatable.  Large grassy areas can be sprayed with a non-toxic goose repellent that will disagree with the birds’ taste buds and send them looking for better tasting feeding grounds. Several other bird removal techniques are available that work to scare birds away from the property and encourage them to relocate elsewhere. Scare methods take advantage of the goose’s natural fear of predators or harm.  Creating the sense of danger in the environment frequented by the geese will send them packing to less frightening surroundings. 

Bright colors and the eyes of a predator may work to get rid of birds and geese in concentrated areas like pools, lakeside docks, or patios. One inexpensive solution might be placing large colorful PVC scare balloons with predator-like eye decals randomly around the affected area. Geese become confused and uncomfortable and leave looking for a less threatening location.

Lakeside properties and open areas may require more real-life goose deterrents.  Life-like plastic coyote decoys can be installed at the birds’ common entry points, convincing them to move along before they enter.  Moving these decoys from one entry point to another every few weeks will trick the geese into thinking this is a real threat and not a permanent fixture.

A motion-activated sprinkler device can be installed and programmed to release a spray of water when large birds like geese come near the property.  This is used in conjunction with a common garden hose and works quite well to keep geese away from the area before they even land. 

Some geese respond better to the sound of fellow geese in distress.  Weatherproof outdoor programmable goose sound systems are available that can be set to broadcast a specific goose call of danger. The call lasts for two minutes and repeats at set intervals, disturbing the birds and activating their natural instinct to flee.

Whether the geese are scouting for new territory, or have found a comfortable place to call home, any of these goose deterrent methods used alone or in combination, can offer property owners peace of mind and useful, safe and non-toxic bird control.

 

by Alex A. Kecskes

A former chef at the Villa Victor in Syosset who claimed he was attacked by a goose sued the restaurant for $1 million. Richard Braue insisted that he was standing by a pond on the restaurant's property when he was charged by a Canada goose. In a fruitless attempt to stay clear of the attacking goose, Braue fell and broke his back.

In Jacksonville, Florida, a goose created somewhat of a ruckus outside an office building on Salisbury Road. Having built its nest near the perimeter of the building, the goose attacked passersby. Some say the bird is just protecting its nest. But police recently reported that the goose actually bit a woman's ear.

Residents in Gotwals Pond in Kimberton, Chester County, Pennsylvania reported that there were 500 to 600 Canada geese on the pond. In fact, Jeff Effgan, part owner of the Kimberton Country House restaurant--which is a stone's throw from the pond--said that one day there were so many geese on the pond, the water wasn't even visible. Needless to say, the pond smelled pretty ripe that day.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services, the growing numbers of resident Canada geese pose a threat to public health and safety and cause damage to property, agriculture and natural resources.

Without effective goose control measures, geese will typically flock around lakes, reservoirs, large ponds, and near rivers and seashores. They like to feed on aquatic vegetation, grasses, seeds and grain. When adult geese molt their flight feathers in the summer, they can't fly and simply gather in huge annoying flocks, pecking and bumping into anyone who they regard as a threat to "their territory."

Even when not attacking people or knocking down children, geese will leave an awful mess. The smelly, disease-carrying droppings can contaminate ponds, lakes and other bodies of water. And they're not exactly welcome around golf courses and business parks.

Fortunately, there are a variety of goose deterrents available to commercial property owners. These are humane, since many species of geese are protected by federal and local statutes.

For large, open spaces, one popular goose deterrent is the Supersonic Goose Deterrent. This easy-to-use device plays recorded goose-distress calls every ten minutes to alert geese that danger is nearby. Geese hear these calls and their natural instinct makes them leave the area. The devices come with one internal and two external speakers to provide effective goose deterrents for up to three acres. Additional speakers can be added to cover larger areas. The rugged device is both sun and waterproof and can be programmed to turn on or off at night.

For smaller areas, you might try hanging a few Visual Goose Scare Deterrents. One popular deterrent in this category is the Predator Eye Balloon. About the size of a standard beach ball, it intimidates geese with its large predator eyes as it bobs and weaves in the breeze. Geese take one look at this "huge predator" and they become too nervous to hang around and loiter. The balloons are made of a U.V.- and weather-resistant vinyl.

To deter geese from pools and other bodies of water, Predator Eye Balloons can be partially filled with water and allowed to skim the surface with their predator eyes facing up to frighten geese. 

The time to implement these goose deterrents is now, before flocks of geese arrive. It's also a good idea use goose deterrents in tandem. And to move them around for best deterrent effect.

by Alex A. Kecskes

A former chef at the Villa Victor in Syosset who claimed he was attacked by a goose sued the restaurant for $1 million. Richard Braue insisted that he was standing by a pond on the restaurant's property when he was charged by a Canada goose. In a fruitless attempt to stay clear of the attacking goose, Braue fell and broke his back.

In Jacksonville, Florida, a goose created somewhat of a ruckus outside an office building on Salisbury Road. Having built its nest near the perimeter of the building, the goose attacked passersby. Some say the bird is just protecting its nest. But police recently reported that the goose actually bit a woman's ear.

Residents in Gotwals Pond in Kimberton, Chester County, Pennsylvania reported that there were 500 to 600 Canada geese on the pond. In fact, Jeff Effgan, part owner of the Kimberton Country House restaurant--which is a stone's throw from the pond--said that one day there were so many geese on the pond, the water wasn't even visible. Needless to say, the pond smelled pretty ripe that day.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services, the growing numbers of resident Canada geese pose a threat to public health and safety and cause damage to property, agriculture and natural resources.

Without effective goose control measures, geese will typically flock around lakes, reservoirs, large ponds, and near rivers and seashores. They like to feed on aquatic vegetation, grasses, seeds and grain. When adult geese molt their flight feathers in the summer, they can't fly and simply gather in huge annoying flocks, pecking and bumping into anyone who they regard as a threat to "their territory."

Even when not attacking people or knocking down children, geese will leave an awful mess. The smelly, disease-carrying droppings can contaminate ponds, lakes and other bodies of water. And they're not exactly welcome around golf courses and business parks.

Fortunately, there are a variety of goose deterrents available to commercial property owners. These are humane, since many species of geese are protected by federal and local statutes.

For large, open spaces, one popular goose deterrent is the Supersonic Goose Deterrent. This easy-to-use device plays recorded goose-distress calls every ten minutes to alert geese that danger is nearby. Geese hear these calls and their natural instinct makes them leave the area. The devices come with one internal and two external speakers to provide effective goose deterrents for up to three acres. Additional speakers can be added to cover larger areas. The rugged device is both sun and waterproof and can be programmed to turn on or off at night.

For smaller areas, you might try hanging a few Visual Goose Scare Deterrents. One popular deterrent in this category is the Predator Eye Balloon. About the size of a standard beach ball, it intimidates geese with its large predator eyes as it bobs and weaves in the breeze. Geese take one look at this "huge predator" and they become too nervous to hang around and loiter. The balloons are made of a U.V.- and weather-resistant vinyl.

To deter geese from pools and other bodies of water, Predator Eye Balloons can be partially filled with water and allowed to skim the surface with their predator eyes facing up to frighten geese. 

The time to implement these goose deterrents is now, before flocks of geese arrive. It's also a good idea use goose deterrents in tandem. And to move them around for best deterrent effect.

by Alex A. Kecskes

Never underestimate the need for effective goose control. A transportation conductor in Huntington, West Virginia filed suit in federal court after a goose in a rail yard attacked him. The man was working as a conductor at the Keyser Receiving Yard near Ravenswood and was performing a brake test on a CSX train. While performing a required inspection, a goose, which was previously known to have nested in the yard, suddenly jumped out from under one of the railcars, striking the man, and causing him to fall. The man filed suit for pain, past and future medical treatment, loss of earnings, impairment of future earnings, and loss of enjoyment of life. All told, the damages amounted to $75,000.

Geese Habitats

Geese are drawn to large inland bodies of water--like lakes, reservoirs, large ponds, and on seashores and rivers. Without effective goose control measures, these large birds will return in large numbers to the locale where were born. For the most part, geese are gregarious and when adults molt their flight feathers (for about 3 to 4 weeks in the summer), they are earth bound and can become quite bothersome. Geese have continued to multiply, particularly in urban areas, since these locales lack the traditional predators (like foxes and coyotes) that control their number.

Lacking goose control measures, huge flocks of geese often lay claim to an area, leaving disease-carrying droppings in their wake. These droppings contaminate the quality of ponds, lakes and other bodies of water, leaving an unsightly and unsanitary mess at parks, golf courses and business parks. In addition, Geese are voracious consumers of lawns and shrubbery, and they will destroy gardens and farm crops.

Geese are also a safety hazard in and around airports, since they continue to collide with aircraft, causing major damage to engines and props. In some cases, these collisions can be potentially lethal, as in the case of a US Airways Airbus after a flock of geese disabled both engines, forcing it to land in the Hudson River. Goose control measures are often required at many airports.

Federal and local statutes, so only non-lethal goose repellents can be used against them, protect many species of geese. Below are some of todays most effective and humane goose control devices.

Sonic Goose Repellers

Using sound to scare pest birds is not new. But these ingenious devices exploit a goose's natural fear of predators to do the job most effectively. Sonic Goose Repellers scare geese off with sounds of distress and predator calls. They are most effective when they are strategically positioned in gardens, backyards, patios, and other open spaces.

The Scarecrow

These clever goose control devices deliver a healthy blast of water when wandering geese approach their active radius of detection. The sudden blast of water, startling sprinkler sound and realistic looking bird-like moving head deliver a convincing message to pest geese. The scarecrow easily connects to a garden hose, yet uses just 2 to 3 cups of water per spray. It covers approximately 1,200 square feet with a stream that reaches out 35 feet and 45 feet wide. The scarecrow works day and night for up to 6 months (over 1,000 'firings") on a single 9-volt battery. For added versatility, you can fine-tune both the scarecrow's sensitivity and spray distance. Scarecrows are perfect for keeping geese out of gardens, ponds and other open areas.

Chemical Goose Repellents

A highly effective and affordable goose control measure, Chemical Spray Goose Repellents are ideal for use in parks, shorelines, golf courses, cemeteries, lawns, yards, landscaping, shrubs, or any grass areas where geese have become a problem. The non-toxic liquid makes grass unpalatable to geese so they just move on to tastier food sources. Formulated from a grape extract that irritate geese, the chemical is safe for pets, geese and humans.

The best geese spray repellents can be easily applied using most commercially available hand-held sprayers. The application procedure is straightforward. After mowing the lawn area to be treated, apply an initial application, then wait about a week, and repeat the process. Two applications last for up to three months. The chemical won’t wash off with rain or water. The repellent's effectiveness varies with the weather, repellent concentration, and frequency of application. The best goose repellent is registered with the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Goose Netting

To exclude geese from specific areas in airports, courtyards, canopies, and rooftops, there's Goose Netting. This goose control measure usually has a 2-inch mesh size. In choosing the best netting for your specific need, choose a name-brand product that is waterproof, rot- and flame-resistant, and U.V. stabilized. Non-conductive netting is preferred for most applications.

Heavy-duty netting made of high-strength polyethylene is ideal for large, high stress applications. Some manufacturers offer netting with a burst strength of up to 40 pounds. If you're concerned about appearance, today's bird proof netting can be ordered in several different colors--including white, stone and black to blend in with a structure's color design.

by Terra Anders

Pack up a picnic basket, gather up the kids, apply the bug spray, and don’t forget the bread to feed the geese.  Sound familiar?  Children all over the world love feeding the geese.  What picnic at the park would be complete without this childhood tradition?  But what happens when the geese population increases so dramatically that they become a health hazard?  City officials all over the United States are often burdened with goose control issues like this.

In Wisconsin, Mayor Paul Soglin has been under scrutiny for allowing city officials to kill about 350 Canadian geese at four city parks.  The approval was given by Madison Parks Division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture on June 25, 2011 after evidence of hazardous algae and bacteria had been found in some of the park lakes.  The problem had become so bad that a couple of the parks had to be shut down during the busy season.  Water supplies were compromised, and something had to be done to get a handle on the multiplying geese population. While several goose deterrent options for getting rid of the birds were presented, the choice to capture and kill a large quantity of the geese has certainly brought about a lot of controversy.

In a statement on June 28, 2011, Mayor Soglin confirmed that the about 200 Canada geese were indeed harvested and killed shortly after after the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a permit to kill the birds at four city parks. Citizen groups had been trying to prevent the killing in lieu of a more humane goose control method.

According to a recent WISC-TV report, although the killings did take place and the parks’ populations of geese were temporarily thinned, the geese have already begun to repopulate. Not only is killing a controversial goose control method, it is rarely successful in the long-run.  Much more humane, non-lethal methods are available, and when put in place with forethought and intention, these kinder methods can be much more effective.

Canadian geese like wide-open spaces. To help control bird populations, adding rocks, bushes, trees, hedges, or other types of barriers can modify the large open spaces of the park lawns. Plant these between the lawn and the water to discourage the geese.  They won’t like having to take the long way around to the water.

It may be futile to stop people from feeding geese in the park.  However, posting signs around the park, explaining the overpopulation problem and  how people can help by discouraging feeding the birds this practice would certainly be an inexpensive educational tool worth investing in.  Park staff might consider giving weekly informational classes to interested park-goers explaining the habits of the Canada geese and why they need to be controlled,

Spread non-toxic goose repellent on the area that is over-populated. This repellent is most often made with grape extract and methyl anthranilate, a combination that geese can not tolerate.  Geese hang around the park because there is always a sufficient food supply.  When this goose repellent is used, the geese will soon move on to other pastures looking for a more suitable food supply. 

Removing abandoned nests in the winter season can sometimes stop geese from coming back in the spring.

Geese prefer low, trimmed grass, so maintaining an area of tall grass or flowers around a lake area can create both a visual and physical barrier to the geese.

Geese populations respond quite well to sound goose deterrent systems that broadcast a recorded distress call in an area for up to 6 acres. The system is completely programmable and can send out one to two minute distress calls at determined intervals.   When geese hear this troubled cry, they become nervous and will leave the area in search of safer ground.  This type of goose deterrent is weather-resistant and very effective in large open outdoor spaces like parks.

Goose control is not a passive event.  It takes maintenance and persistence to convince birds to move out; and stay out.  Geese that have become comfortable in a particular area will return year after year.  Keeping an arsenal of bird control measures at the ready will be a park crew’s best plan. 

By Alex A. Kecskes

Spring is coming…and so are the Geese. They'll be honking, and nesting and trampling all over your lawn and garden.  They'll also be pooping on your lawn, around your pool or spa, and creating quite an unsanitary mess. To successfully deter geese, its important to start early. You'll have to stop them before they settle in for spring. The time for bird deterrents is now.

Remember how they came back last year? Well, they'll do the same this year, maybe even bring a few friends, which means you'll have an even bigger problem this year. If you destroyed their nests, they'll just build new ones. They're strong willed and determined, especially if your yard offers what they like—shelter, food, close proximity to water and protection from predators.

As you may recall, geese are big and heavy, and they can fly approaching speeds of up to 50 miles per hour.  They'll ram into your dog, cat or child and knock them down, especially to protect their nests and eggs. Unless you act now by installing an effective goose deterrent, you'll be cleaning a mess on a weekly or even daily basis. Is this how you want to spend or your spring and summer months?

If you don't keep your pool, spa or pond clean, the goose droppings could infect you with any number of diseases, including swimmer’s itch, histoplasmosis, toxoplasmosis and giardia.  Heard enough?  Then get ready to implement some effective goose deterrents:

Migrate Goose Repellent. Migrate is a liquid repellent used to keep geese from eating grass or shrubbery and is made from a grape extract. You simply mix migrate with water and apply to affected areas. Geese cannot stand the taste and smell of the repellent and will move on to find a new food source. Migrate lasts about 3 months outdoors and is safe to use around people and pets.

Bird Scare Devices. These are relatively inexpensive and easy to install all around your property. They consist of iridescent reflective foil or shiny tape banners that wave in the breeze, crackling and reflecting sunlight to create an “Optical Distraction Zone.” Another effective goose deterrent that falls into this category is the inflatable balloon. These have large "spooky" reflective predator eyes no goose wants to be around. There's also the Scare-Eye Diverter, which, like the balloon, looks very intimidating to geese and makes them feel like they're being sized up for a meal. These goose control deterrents work best when they're moved and switched every so often. Hey, birds aren't stupid, so respect them and beat them by outsmarting them.

Goose-B-Gone Super Sonic. This is an outdoor sound device that plays real goose distress calls mixed with bird predator calls. They work their psychological magic and convince geese that danger is near and that other geese are in trouble. This will convince them to move on to a more secure spot. Best of all this Goose Sonic device is weatherproof and can cover between 1- acres! The unit can be programmed to turn off at night and back on in the morning. 


The most important thing to remember is to install your goose deterrents now, before geese arrive, the sooner you address the problem, the more successful you will be.

by Alex A. Kecskes

If you’re a homeowner living anywhere in North America, you may have had a run in with geese on your property. There are over10 different species of Geese. They can weigh upwards of 24 lbs and be up to four feet long. That’s a lot of goose, and a lot of droppings and damage to your garden. Without effective goose repellents or goose deterrents, your garden will be pretty much at their mercy.

The two types of geese are your migrating geese and your resident Canada geese. The former spend their winters in the deep Southern US and Mexico, then head to Canada to breed in the Spring; the latter will nest, lay eggs and deposit as much as a pound of droppings (per goose) on your beautiful garden. It’s not pretty. Resident geese will occupy your garden between April and August; migratory geese will use your garden for a day or so--enough to do some damage and leave their droppings for you to clean up.

Without proper goose control, flocks of geese will run roughshod over your garden and lawn. The droppings left by these large birds are no different than those of other winged pests. They contain diseases that can create serious health risks. If you have a decorative pond, spa or pool, you’ll have to clean out the droppings before you can enjoy these amenities. Public beaches have been shut down when goose droppings raised fecal coliform levels.

While there are all sorts of ways to chase geese off your property--including bang cannons, BB guns, avicides and firecrackers--these can be both ineffective in the long run and dangerous or annoying to family, neighbors and pets.

Fortunately, there are a number of humane, common sense goose deterrents that have proven to be highly effective.

One solution for deterring geese is a smart device called the Scarecrow. The second any bird enters its radius of protection, the Scarecrow springs to life, blasting the intruding bird with water. For any bird, this can be an unnerving and memorable experience, for the sudden blast of water, startling sprinkler sound, and realistic looking bird-like moving head add up to a very powerful deterrent.

Scarecrows are perfect for use in your garden and lawn, as well as around pools, spas and any water feature you may have in your backyard. They connect easily to most garden hoses and they cover about 1,200 square feet with a blast that extends out to 35 feet covering a 45-foot wide swath. Scarecrows are quiet, unobtrusive sentinels that guard your garden day and night from geese intruders. They are economical too, providing over 1,000 "firings" on one 9-volt battery. You can easily adjust them to the needs of your particular garden.  Both the sensitivity and the coverage area can be fine tuned.

For smaller gardens, short walkways and decorative water features and ponds, consider the Mini Scarecrow. It works the same as its big cousin, but rather than using a water blast, it relies on compressed air to generate an annoying squeal intended to discourage geese from occupying your garden, pond or walkway. The Mini is activated the second a goose enters its radius of detection (typically, about 3 to 4 feet). Like the Scarecrow, the Mini can be easily fine tuned to the needs of your garden. The Mini will stand guard with over 200 sprays. It’s versatile too, for you can switch to a sound-only mode to save the compressed air for longer active performance.

There’s no doubt that geese in your yard or garden can be a problem. But if you use the right goose deterrent, you can save your property from extensive damage and contamination. The key is to be proactive and install these bird deterrents before the offending birds decide to invade your property and call it their home. Once they’ve settled in, it can be a challenge to get rid of them, for geese can be quite stubborn and aggressive pests.

by Terra Anders

Residential lakeside homes are sought after for their wonderful views, and temperate climates.  They also often have to deal with pest birds, like geese.  Homes that have large lawns with a clear line of vision from the grass to the shoreline may find geese settling there in increasing numbers.  Geese are grazers, so they like to waddle around snacking on grass and seeds in the lawn. Large groups of geese can be seen settled on lawns, sunning and preening themselves while keeping an eye out for predators. These habits make a large grassy area with a fast, visible escape route to the water, a sought after commodity for geese. As beautiful as they are to look at, these large birds soon wear out their welcome. They can quickly increase in numbers, fouling the grass, sand or boat docks with their droppings. 

The lovely Canada Goose is quite prolific, starting their reproductive life at about 2 years of age.  An average goose couple can produce about four offspring each year.  Since the geese live to be about ten or eleven years, that means that just one pair of geese and their offspring alone can increase the gaggle to several hundred in just a few years!  If homeowners have not built in well-planned goose deterrents, the mess left by the geese families can depreciate the value of the property considerably.

Hunting geese as a means of controlling the population is frowned upon by many, it is actually an realistic means of controlling goose populations in some areas.  It is allowed in some states, but only under very controlled conditions.  Never shoot Canada Geese on a property before first checking with the local Department of Fish and Wildlife authorities.  They can provide hunting limitations, removal guidelines and rules that should be followed without compromise.

Actually, some basic landscaping tips and a couple of easy goose control methods can be employed to keep the geese population in check and property cleaner, safer and more pleasant. Geese look for three main things when selecting their long-term residence: safety, food and adequate tall water grasses for nesting. Any kind of effective goose deterrent plan must address all three of these.

Goose-Resistant Landscaping: Making your shoreline less attractive to geese, but still a lovely view for humans aren’t as tough as it wounds. Eliminating the clear view line from grass to water is probably the most effective landscaping technique.  This can be done by setting up a physical barrier of some kind between water and grass. Wire mesh or polyurethane bird netting, even a white picket fence will work as long as the mesh or slat distance is no larger than 3 inches, and fences are at least 30 inches high.  Walking geese will not be happy with this.  If a more natural barrier is preferred, consider a very dense decorative hedge or long patch of wildflowers of no less than thirty inches high.  The barrier should be 20-30 feet wide and placed along the shoreline, then reaching back along each side of the lawn.  Any cattails or tall water grasses can remain on the opposite side of the barrier to help keep birds away from the lawn.

Motion Activated Sprinklers: What about those geese that fly in and land on the lawn?  Not to worry, the key is to make them as uncomfortable as possible so they won’t stay.  Sudden, unexpected water bursts into the large open lawn area can be a surprisingly useful goose deterrent.  Motion sensors detect when a bird is within 35 feet of the sensor, activating a water burst sprinkler system that shoots H20 up to 35 feet out and 45 feet across. Geese are unable to settle down and will take their friends and move along quickly.

Lawns that fail the goose taste test:  Geese that have already settled in will need more coaxing to leave.  Spreading non-toxic goose repellent over the lawn (or even along the shoreline) is another useful deterrent. As the geese snack, they eat the grape extract which irritates the nerves in the bird’s nasal passages and other mucous membranes. It is vexing to the geese and they will soon realize there are no more good eats there. The concentrated spray is mixed with water and dispersed using a standard hand-held sprayer.  Mow the law before treating it and re-treat about every four weeks to maintain.

Once their sense of safety has been removed by the landscaping; the nesting areas have been eliminated; and their feeding area is contaminated, the pest geese will leave in search of a more inviting home. Goose control can be environmentally friendly and still work to keep birds away from private property.