Canadian geese in residential yards cause problems for homeowners. These large waterfowl graze extensively on turf, compacting the soil and causing significant landscape damage. Their droppings accumulate rapidly, creating an unsanitary environment that can pose a health concern and make the area unusable. Finding effective, non-lethal methods to encourage them to relocate is necessary, given their tendency to return to familiar locations.
Understanding the Legal Status of Canadian Geese
Canadian geese are federally protected wildlife. They fall under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), which makes it illegal to hunt, kill, capture, or possess migratory birds, their parts, eggs, or nests without proper authorization. This legislation prevents property owners from undertaking lethal control measures or disturbing active nests without a permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Harassment, or hazing, is generally permitted as a non-lethal form of deterrence, provided it does not result in the injury or death of the birds. However, attempting to remove or destroy eggs or nests, even on private property, constitutes a “take” under the MBTA and requires federal registration or a special permit. Consulting with a local wildlife management agency is prudent to ensure all deterrent activities comply with federal and state regulations.
Physical Barriers and Landscape Management
Long-term management focuses on modifying the yard’s habitat to make it naturally unattractive to geese. Geese are grazers who prefer short, well-manicured turf, particularly common cool-season grasses like Kentucky bluegrass. They seek this vegetation because the high nitrogen content from fertilization offers a readily digestible food source.
A strategic landscape change involves replacing large areas of this preferred grass with less palatable alternatives, such as coarse, warm-season grasses or groundcovers like pachysandra, periwinkle, or English ivy. Reducing the use of lawn fertilizers also lowers the nutritional appeal of the remaining turf. Geese also require clear lines of sight, typically around 30 feet, to detect approaching predators, which informs their choice of grazing location.
Planting dense, tall vegetation, such as native shrubs or grasses that reach at least 30 inches high, along the edges of water bodies or open fields effectively disrupts this sightline. This creates a psychological barrier that makes the geese feel vulnerable and less likely to settle. For properties with ponds, installing low-profile fencing or a two-strand monofilament wire barrier can block their walking access to the water’s edge.
Active Deterrence Strategies
Immediate deterrence focuses on active harassment techniques designed to create an uncomfortable environment for the geese. The most effective method involves persistent and varied hazing, as geese quickly become accustomed to any single, predictable deterrent. Motion-activated sprinklers are a popular tool, combining a sudden noise, movement, and a harmless blast of water when the birds enter the detection zone.
Visual deterrents rely on the geese’s fear of predators and the unsettling effect of movement and light. Reflective materials, such as mirrored pinwheels or holographic flash tape, create shifting light patterns that irritate the birds and discourage them from landing. While predator decoys like swans or coyotes can be used, they must be moved every few days to maintain the illusion of a threat, otherwise, the geese will quickly recognize them as harmless.
Auditory deterrents, such as bio-acoustic devices that broadcast predator or goose distress calls, can be used to signal danger to the flock. These must also be used intermittently and moved around to prevent the birds from habituating to the sound pattern. For persistent goose populations, professional services often employ trained herding dogs, typically Border Collies, whose natural predatory movements are highly effective at dispersing flocks without causing physical harm.
Non-toxic chemical applications, such as liquid repellents containing Methyl Anthranilate (MA), can be sprayed directly onto the grass. This compound, derived from concord grapes, irritates the geese’s trigeminal nerve, making the treated grass taste and smell unpleasant without harming the birds. Combining these various active and passive strategies offers the best chance for long-term success.