Geese are a nuisance to those who live near them. Geese can cause property damage, as they eat grass and other plants on your lawn. They also often defecate in the same area, which creates a health hazard for people and pets that may come into contact with it. Geese have been known to attack humans as well.
Geese populations have grown due to human activity such as constructing ponds for them or feeding them bread crumbs at parks and golf courses where they congregate. If you want to get rid of geese on your property, there are some things you can do:
Avoid Feeding Them
Geese tend to congregate at places where there is a ready supply of food available. If you keep them from this source, then they will soon move on. Do not leave any source of food out for them, and remove any areas where they may have a chance to rest. If you can’t remove these sources of food, then you should at least avoid feeding the geese yourself, else this will only reinforce their presence around your home.
Repellents and Poisons
Geese are known for being particularly stubborn creatures when it comes to getting rid of them, and certain methods may not work effectively. When using goose repellent or poison(particularly), you need to consider the risk they pose to your pets and children. If you are not comfortable with this, then it is best that you don’t try any of them.
Some repellents that are marketed for geese control can kill them if applied in high enough concentrations, so be careful when using them. They are considered poisonous under most circumstances, so store them safely away from children or pets. You should also avoid using poisons unless absolutely necessary, as they may come into contact with people or other animals in your home.
Remove Their Favorite Plant Life
Geese enjoy eating grass and other plant life on your property, so removing these things is an effective way to get rid of geese. You can replace some or all of the grass with gravel or stones to make it uninhabitable by the geese. This will make your property and lawn look different and less attractive to geese.
At the same time, this does not mean that you must eliminate all forms of vegetation on your property; there are many drought-resistant plants that do not appeal to the goose population but still look beautiful. Use flagstones or another non-grass surface to keep geese off of your lawn.
Place Barriers in Season
During the winter months, geese tend to migrate southward or relocate on their own accord. If you want to get rid of geese in this season, then you can place a barrier at the opening where they used to get onto your property so that they can’t come back once they leave.
You should also keep them from returning the following spring by blocking off any areas where they might try to nest, such as under your porch or deck. The barriers can be placed at the openings or around your ponds, and it would get them away from your property.
Avoid Keeping Long Grass
Geese like to nest in long grass and other places that they find concealed. You can keep them off of your lawn or garden by keeping the grass short and removing any excess vegetation; this will make it less attractive to geese.
It may not be considered as an actual way to get rid of them, however, they like staying clear of areas that put them in harm’s way and short grass is one of those things. Glasses longer than 6 inches do not appeal to them, so that’s something to consider.
Dogs Can Be Helpful
Geese are known to be especially fearful of dogs, so having a dog will not only keep them away but can also chase them away. This works well for geese in public areas, as the presence of the dog should be enough to keep them from returning. You can also tie up your dog near an area where you see geese visiting often; this should repel them and discourage any future visits. Having a dog on a leash is probably better, so you don’t risk it causing harm to the poor animal.
Use Of Pyrotechnics And Audible Devices
Pyrotechnics include noisemakers that are made specifically to scare off geese. They emit loud noises or shrieks that sound very unpleasant to the bird’s ears, making it uncomfortable for them to stay around your property long enough to leave droppings behind. While these may work for some people, others may find that geese simply get used to the noises rather quickly and will stop caring about it for a while.
Geese are actually quite afraid of loud noises (e.g., sirens) which is why cities use them to control populations; this should help if you’re living in close proximity to other inhabitants.
Remove Water Sources that Attract Them
Geese like to come and go as they please and will only stay if there is a source of water nearby. You can discourage them from visiting your yard by draining or removing all sources of standing water, such as pools, ponds, and even birdbaths.
Image Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/urUFl0VaO68
Water features may not seem like an obvious reason, but geese still drink from the same source that domestic animals do, so it does play a role in why they’re around.
Identify The Hatching Sites And Remove Eggs
Assuming you’re having problems with geese nesting on your property, then you should check under any structures that can give them cover for this purpose. Geese lay their eggs somewhere safe where they feel protected because a goose egg has a very thick shell which makes it difficult to break.
Once you remove the eggs, they will move on to a new location, since their nests are defenseless without them. Of course, this isn’t a permanent way of getting rid of geese, but it works in the meanwhile.
Be Patient And Assertive
You need to be patient and assertive with your methods, as geese can be quite stubborn when trying to get rid of them. Sometimes it takes time for them to completely leave an area, but as long as you remain consistent with your efforts, they should eventually move somewhere else where there’s more food and shelter available.
Have you been struggling with how to get rid of geese on your property? Follow the tips listed in the article to ensure they stay clear from you at all times.
Image Source: BigStockPhoto.com (Licensed)
Related Categories: Nature, Pets & Animals, Reviews
