Canada geese are highly adaptable birds, and their increasing presence on lakefront properties often causes problems like excessive droppings, overgrazing, and territorial aggression. Geese are drawn to the combination of open water for safety and short, tender grass for easy feeding, which is the exact environment created by manicured waterfront landscaping. Effectively reducing their presence requires a sustained, multi-faceted approach that makes the property less appealing for grazing and loafing. Successful strategies blend habitat modification, physical barriers, and sensory deterrents to encourage the geese to relocate.
Making the Landscape Uninviting
The most fundamental and long-term solution involves altering the immediate shoreline habitat to remove the features geese seek. Geese prefer short, manicured turf because it offers unobstructed sightlines, allowing them to easily spot predators while grazing. Allowing the grass adjacent to the water to grow significantly taller, ideally 6 to 12 inches high, disrupts this visual security and makes the area less comfortable for walking and feeding.
A dense, unmowed vegetative buffer extending 10 to 20 feet from the water’s edge is effective as it obscures the path between the water and the lawn. Creating a buffer with native grasses, shrubs, or dense plantings that reach 24 to 30 inches high acts as a visual and physical barrier. Eliminating intentional food sources, such as stopping supplemental feeding and reducing the use of lawn fertilizers, removes the primary attraction of the lawn.
Deploying Physical and Visual Barriers
Physical barriers are highly effective because geese prefer to walk from the water to feeding areas rather than fly short distances.
Shoreline Barriers
Installing a low barrier, such as thin wire or mesh, 10 to 15 feet from the shoreline can interrupt their walking path and deter access to the lawn. A two-line barrier is often sufficient, with a bottom strand around six inches high and a top strand at 18 inches, discouraging them from stepping over or ducking under the line. Low fencing made of wire or plastic mesh, typically 24 to 30 inches high, also serves as a clear physical block to exclude walking geese from specific lawn sections. This type of barrier is particularly useful during the geese’s summer molting period when they are flightless and confined to walking.
Overhead Barriers
For small ponds or dock areas, installing overhead wire grids can prevent geese from landing on the water itself. Monofilament fishing line, at least 20-pound test, strung in a grid pattern 12 to 18 inches above the water with lines spaced 10 to 15 feet apart, makes the area unsuitable for landing.
Visual Deterrents
Visual deterrents, such as realistic predator decoys like coyotes, foxes, or even floating alligator heads, can intimidate geese. However, geese are intelligent and quickly habituate to static threats. To maintain effectiveness, these decoys must be moved frequently, ideally every few days, to a new location on the property. Motion-activated sprinklers provide an unexpected, non-harmful physical shock that can startle and repel geese. The sudden burst of water discourages them from lingering in the treated area, especially when used near popular loafing spots.
Sensory Deterrence Methods
Sensory deterrents manipulate a goose’s sense of taste and smell, making the grass unappealing for grazing. The most common chemical approach involves applying non-toxic, food-grade repellents containing methyl anthranilate (MA). This compound, derived from concord grapes, irritates the geese’s trigeminal nerve and mucous membranes, creating a harmless but unpleasant taste and smell sensation.
When geese attempt to graze on grass treated with MA, they experience an immediate aversion, which trains them to associate that specific area with an unpleasant feeding experience. These products are registered with the Environmental Protection Agency and are safe for humans, pets, and the environment when applied correctly. Reapplication is necessary, especially after heavy rainfall, to maintain the repellent’s concentration and lasting effect. Auditory methods, such as recorded distress calls or predator sounds, can also be used to trigger a temporary avoidance response. Specialized sonic devices broadcast these sounds to create the impression of danger, prompting the flock to leave the area. For these sound devices to remain effective, the sounds and patterns must be varied to prevent the geese from becoming accustomed to the noise.
Understanding Regulations and Safety
Property owners must understand that Canada geese are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). This legislation makes it illegal to pursue, hunt, capture, kill, or possess migratory birds, their eggs, or their nests without proper authorization.
While non-lethal deterrents such as scaring, hazing, and modifying the habitat are generally permissible, any activities involving the destruction of nests or eggs, or the lethal removal of birds, require a specific permit. These permits are issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and sometimes also require state-level authorization. Contacting the USFWS or a state wildlife agency is advisable before implementing any measures beyond simple harassment or habitat modification. During the nesting season, typically in the spring, geese can become territorial and aggressive. Maintain a safe distance from nesting pairs to avoid confrontation. For complex or persistent goose problems, hiring a licensed wildlife control professional is the safest and most legally compliant approach.