The following question was sent to the P&PDL
diagnosticians here at Purdue University:
Q: Could you PLEASE give me some advice on
keeping Canada Geese out of my 2 acre pond. We sometimes have
up to 100 geese at a time. Thank you!
A: During the mid-part of this century, Canada
geese populations had declined to relatively low numbers. Thanks
to the conservation efforts of hunters, conservation organizations,
State, and Federal wildlife agencies, Canada geese have once
again become abundant in the U.S. In certain situations, the
geese have become too abundant in some locations. Although most
people enjoy the sight and sound of wild geese migrating through
their area, many people do not appreciate the turf damage and
accumulations of droppings that large numbers of resident birds
can leave behind. Once geese have become established on your
pond, it may be difficult to get any long-term relief. A good
management program tends to be a maintenance type activity rather
than a quick fix.
The first step of a goose management program is to identify
all of the goose attractions in the immediate area and to eliminate
or limit those attractions.
Your pond. Water is an attraction in itself.
Limiting goose access to the pond through the installation
of overhead grid wires has proven effective in many areas.
If your pond has an aerator, turn it off in the winter
and allow your pond to freeze. Open water is extremely
attractive in the winter when many ponds are frozen over.
Vegetation. Geese are grazers. They love the tender new
growth on well manicured grass. You can replant heavily goose-grazed
areas with ground covers, native grasses, or a variety of landscaping
choices other than turf grass.
Other food attractions. If you have been feeding the geese,
this must stop if you want the geese to leave. If you plant crops
attractive to geese (corn, soybeans, etc.) adjacent to your pond,
you can try switching to another crop type, or plant several rows
of a less attractive crop as a perimeter barrier.
Nesting structures. If you have installed goose nest platforms
in the past, remove those platforms. You may also remove any old
goose nests. You do not need a permit or license in Indiana to
remove any old, abandoned goose nests. You would need a permit
to tamper with an active nest with eggs or young in it.
Since geese prefer areas where they have easy access between
food, water, and nesting sites, barriers can be an effective
deterrent in discouraging resident geese.
Fencing. Either temporary plastic fencing or
more permanent fencing installed around the perimeter
of your pond can be effective in containing geese.
Vegetation barriers. Dense shrubbery can also act as a
fence. Ensure that the shrubs are thick and dense at ground level
as well as at the top.
Visual barriers. Temporary fences made of 1 or 2 strands
of string tied with streamers have occasionally provided temporary
relief from migratory geese. We rarely get satisfactory results
with this method on resident geese.
Harassment. Noise harassment has proven to be effective in
moving geese out of an area when implemented correctly. Visual
harassment has been less successful.
Successful harassment is based on punishment/reward.
The geese are harassed (punished) when they attempt to
land on the pond, but harassment stops (reward) when
the geese fly away. This means you need to monitor your
geese to find out the time of day they arrive at your
pond. Your goal is to NEVER LET THEM LAND ON THE POND.
If the geese permanently reside on your pond and do not
leave, you must harass them into flight and then prevent
them from landing again. You can best control this type
of harassment by using hand-held pyrotechnic equipment.
Automatic harassment systems such as propane cannons can
be effective if the system is moved and the automatic timer interval
changed regularly. Birds acclimate quickly to repetitive stimuli,
so changing the location and the interval between booms extends
the effectiveness of this tool. These systems work better in agricultural
rather than urban situations.
Visual harassment. Plastic owls, snakes, etc. have been
completely ineffective in harassing geese. Metallic balloons tethered
in the area have produced limited results.
Repellents. Chemical repellents for geese are based on TASTE
aversion. Methyl anthranilate is a registered chemical that
has shown some effectiveness in preventing geese from grazing
on turf grass. It does not prevent geese from walking through
an area or from defecating in an area. This product has also
demonstrated some repellency in small puddles of water, but
not on larger ponds or lakes.
The most successful goose management programs incorporate multiple
methods. The combined effects of two or more of the techniques
listed above will provide a much more satisfactory result than
relying on one method alone.
Canada geese are protected by both State and Federal law. This
means you must have a valid permit prior to conducting any restricted
activities. For additional information on alternatives for Canada
goose control, contact the USDA-APHIS-Wildlife Services Office
in your state or call the Indiana USDA- APHIS-WS office at 765-494-6229.
--Judy S. Loven, State Director, Indiana Wildlife Services
Information listed is valid only for the state of Indiana.
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that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by the
Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service is implied.
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