Making Peace With Geese - Not in My Front Yard!


Geese and other waterfowl are on the move as cold fronts and their own instincts drive them south for the winter. At times, these birds gather in lakefront lawns, leaving behind some "reminders" of their visit. Fecal contamination by large numbers of birds can impact water quality and make your activities less enjoyable. You can take certain steps to minimize the mess. We've compiled some advice for making peace with geese, from the Wisconsin DNR.

First, avoid letting anyone feed the birds. They're more likely to stay longer in areas where stale bread, cracked corn or other food is plentiful. When the geese gather to feed, they're also more likely to pass along diseases one or more of them may carry.

Second, geese love manicured lawns. Installing a rock wall and letting shoreline vegetation grow tall create barriers for the geese. Dense hedges as well as wooden and plastic fencing also work.

The DNR says scare techniques work best in the spring as adult geese are seeking secure, secluded places to nest. Noisemakers like sirens and natural gas exploders can haze geese, but the loud sounds are equally displeasing to people. Moreover, goose flocks can eventually get used to loud noises that are not accompanied by a real threat.

Mylar helium balloons painted with eye spots can be tethered in fields. They scare geese because they look like large predators. Half-inch strips of flashing mylar tape or ribbon can also persuade geese to move onto other nearby mown grass. Both the rattling sound and the light flashes frighten geese. Such tape is available through garden centers, feed co-ops and mail-order catalogs.

Two-strand portable electric fencing is also effective and economical in small areas. The lower strand is set up eight inches off the ground and the upper strand at about 18 inches. Low impedance energizers powered by batteries or plug-in outlets deliver short electrical bursts once a second that geese learn to avoid.

Goose repellents will not poison geese (which is illegal) but the odor and taste lead the birds to seek greener pastures elsewhere if other nearby grazing areas are available. Only one repellent is registered for use on turf and lawns (ReJex-iT®) and it has to be carefully sprayed at a set concentration to avoid burning out the lawn.

Once you begin a campaign, the DNR says it's important to be consistent. Goose families are likely to be more difficult to move if they've established a territory. For more information, click here.

Posted: Sat - September 27, 2003 at 05:09 PM      

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