Keeping Geese off your lawn

[DisneyScraps]

I live on a pond. This is the first summer I have been here and I just love the eco system that goes on. We have 4 blue herons, 2 otters and a partridge in a pair tree....and GEESE

It's not the geese that I object to, it's the geese poop. It's all over my back and side yard. Today I found 2 gifts on my front walk.

So it's gotta stop!

The previous owner said he would shoot them with an air rifle I would never do anything like that.

Any creative ideas?

 

[Gigi22]

OP--do you like dogs? There is at least one resort by the seaside in P.E.I. that "employs" a Border Collie to discourage the geese. The collie is a herding species, and tries to herd any geese that land--which makes the geese leave. I am not saying they are completely goose-free, just that the birds don't stick around!

 

[agnes!]

I was going to mention getting or borrowing a dog that likes to herd (but without the kill-it-if-it-moves instinct).

agnes!

 

[FireDancer]

Yet another perfect use for a pellet gun.

To ward off any righteous indignation I'm just kidding. I've never shot anything.

 

[Squirrel!!!]

Geese are pretty aggressive as I am sure you have noticed, so you will need a dog that is task oriented like a herding breed as suggested.

Not just a DOG. Many dogs will be intimidated and cowed by geese and do nothing about them.

Using a dog will also keep the desired species nervous as well though.

 

[Baileymouse]

LOL my first thought when "get a dog" was mentioned was that some dogs really like to eat the geese poop.

I guess a herding dog would do the trick, though.

 

[JessicaR]

Already suggested but get a dog!!

 

[XYSRUS]

Canadian Geese are protected under federal law although you can hunt them Sept. 1-15th! Just so you know...I also think they're a PITA!

 

[JessicaR]

I don't mind the geese at all its the pound of poop they each supply in a day that makes me nuts!

 

[gillep]

Like PPs have mentioned a dog is a great idea but make sure the one you choose is up for the task. I was taking my beagle for a walk last year and we just happened to walk by the lake where all the geese hang out in our neighborhood, and well one hiss from the goose and I couldn't get that dog outside for a walk for a week!!!!!

 

[DisneyScraps]

i am allergic to dogs and my yard is too small to have one it would not be right. We are mostly deck and pond!

 

[Maybelle]

You could put up a barrier system so they can't get up into your yard from the pond. We have a pond, and my father put up a rope blocking the entrance to the pond (it's kind of like a small boat ramp) with decorative hanging things from it...the geese don't like it and stay off the yard.

I don't know if they are Canadian Geese or not, but I HATE Canadian Geese with a passion, and they are protected so there is absolutely nothing you can do about them. If you are found to have hurt one you can go to jail and pay major fines. They have become a huge problem due to their lack of migration back to Canada in the summer, and they are causing many issues with lakes and ponds becoming contaminated and not being able to be used for swimming any longer. Apparently the federal government is more worried about the geese than people's right to utilize the ponds and lakes for fishing and swimming anymore...but we are way overrun, and it is becoming a bigger and bigger problem every year as the goose population increases.

I HATE GEESE!

 

[eliza61]

i am allergic to dogs and my yard is too small to have one it would not be right. We are mostly deck and pond!

In new jersey and pa, they have outfits that rent Professional dogs. You can hire the guys and they come out to your property over a course of time. Local businesses in my area do this. really interesting to watch the dogs work.

http://www.gooserunners.com/?gclid=CMeE0Lf876kCFQw75Qod1E0Aag

 

[DisneyScraps]

The pond borders our backyard and it's also bordering other houses so unless I was going to fence in the yard I can't block it off. I don't want to put up a fence because that would really effect how natural the backyard looks.

We went to a nursery and they had deer repellent, mole repellent, stuff for mice and it seemed like every other animal except geese!

 

[eliza61]

You could put up a barrier system so they can't get up into your yard from the pond. We have a pond, and my father put up a rope blocking the entrance to the pond (it's kind of like a small boat ramp) with decorative hanging things from it...the geese don't like it and stay off the yard.

I don't know if they are Canadian Geese or not, but I HATE Canadian Geese with a passion, and they are protected so there is absolutely nothing you can do about them. If you are found to have hurt one you can go to jail and pay major fines. They have become a huge problem due to their lack of migration back to Canada in the summer, and they are causing many issues with lakes and ponds becoming contaminated and not being able to be used for swimming any longer. Apparently the federal government is more worried about the geese than people's right to utilize the ponds and lakes for fishing and swimming anymore...but we are way overrun, and it is becoming a bigger and bigger problem every year as the goose population increases.

I HATE GEESE!

Ok standard disclosure" Yep I'm one of those environmentalist. Why do humans have some preordained right to use a lake or a pond?

The #1 reason for animals becoming protected or on the endangered list is usually because HUMANS have a) destroyed their natural habitat (or encrouched to the point of swamping) or in some way interfered with their natural migration patterns. or B) HUMANS have hunted and destroyed them out of existance.

Many local communities have found safe, effective ways to keep the goose and other populations managable. Instead of taking the easy way out and blaming the government, contact your local officials and see what they have tried to do about it. Also you can get a federal permit to allow professional hunts to thin geese herds.

 

[golfgal]

some of the golf courses around here have been pretty successful using coyote decoys to keep geese away. http://www.google.com/products/cata...&sa=X&ei=ww4WTsnaKcLg0QGr1LVQ&ved=0CHgQ8wIwAA

 

[Maybelle]

Ok standard disclosure" Yep I'm one of those environmentalist. Why do humans have some preordained right to use a lake or a pond?

The #1 reason for animals becoming protected or on the endangered list is usually because HUMANS have a) destroyed their natural habitat (or encrouched to the point of swamping) or in some way interfered with their natural migration patterns. or B) HUMANS have hunted and destroyed them out of existance.

Many local communities have found safe, effective ways to keep the goose and other populations managable. Instead of taking the easy way out and blaming the government, contact your local officials and see what they have tried to do about it. Also you can get a federal permit to allow professional hunts to thin geese herds.

We have gone to local authorities and state authorities in our area. We keep being told the same thing...there is nothing they can do to help us. I enjoy animals too, but not to the extent that they are destroying the local environment. I would not have a problem if they were counted on a regular basis and something was done to control their numbers, but right now they are just out of control. They are dirty and mean animals, and I'm sorry but I don't like what they have done to the environment that I and my family have enjoyed for decades. But that's my opinion only...everybody is entitled to their own.

 

[eliza61]

We have gone to local authorities and state authorities in our area. We keep being told the same thing...there is nothing they can do to help us. I enjoy animals too, but not to the extent that they are destroying the local environment. I would not have a problem if they were counted on a regular basis and something was done to control their numbers, but right now they are just out of control. They are dirty and mean animals, and I'm sorry but I don't like what they have done to the environment that I and my family have enjoyed for decades. But that's my opinion only...everybody is entitled to their own.

Sent you a pm. My township has been controlling our geese population for about 10 years now. Animals as a rule don't "destroy" environments, Usually what has happened is that humans have come in and changed the enviroment where some thing is off-balance. In most cases, the suburbs that we created has had a few drawbacks.

1) no natural preditators. Every notice that when geese eat usually 1 or 2 will keep there heads up. they checking out the area for nasty things that like to eat them. well since we built our nice suburbs there are no more things around to eat them. Racoons, owls and foxes usually will do the trick nicely.

2) those nice mancured lawns make perfect eating spots. If some one laid out a perfect banquet for you all day, every day how quick would you be to leave?

3) we leave a lot of trash and junk around. even during winter geese, can feed pretty good. Remember the reason to leave is not the cold (they've got all that lovely down) but the food. Once again, lots of food means they ain't leaving.

I don't mean to give a lesson on geese 101 just some facts on why they are hanging around.