Canada Geese frequently become a nuisance when they settle near private ponds. Their constant grazing and the sheer volume of their droppings significantly degrade water quality and ruin recreational spaces. An adult goose can produce up to two pounds of fecal matter daily, introducing excessive nutrients and bacteria into the water system. Addressing this problem requires a strategic, multifaceted approach focused on making the habitat less appealing, encouraging the geese to relocate without causing them harm.
Modifying the Landscape to Discourage Geese
One of the most effective long-term strategies involves altering the shoreline environment to remove the features that initially attract the geese. Canada Geese prefer short, manicured grass near the water because it provides an unobstructed line of sight, which is necessary for spotting potential predators. By allowing the grass immediately adjacent to the pond to grow to a height of 12 to 18 inches, you eliminate this visual security blanket.
Creating a dense, tall buffer zone, ideally 20 to 30 feet wide, makes the geese feel vulnerable and discourages them from walking onto the lawn. Planting unpalatable or dense vegetation, such as tall fescue, shrubs, or aquatic plants like cattails and sedges, further enhances this natural barrier.
Geese prefer gradual, gentle slopes for easy entry and exit from the water. Where possible, modifying the pond’s edge to be steep or rocky makes accessing the water difficult and uncomfortable. It is also important to eliminate any supplemental food sources, including stopping intentional feeding and reducing the use of fertilizers or irrigation that promote the lush, palatable grass they seek.
Implementing Physical Barriers and Exclusion Devices
Physical structures offer a direct and non-lethal method to block the geese from accessing the pond and surrounding lawn areas. Geese generally prefer to walk from the land into the water, so a low-profile perimeter fence along the shoreline can be highly effective. Fencing made of wire, mesh, or monofilament line, installed at a height of 2 to 3 feet, is typically sufficient to deter them.
The fence does not need to be tall enough to prevent flight, but rather must be an inconvenient obstacle to their preferred walking access. A simple, tautly strung fishing line or thin wire, positioned at the approximate height of a goose’s neck, is often enough to create a psychological and physical barrier they choose not to cross.
For smaller ponds, overhead exclusion methods can prevent the birds from landing directly on the water. This involves stringing grid wires, netting, or monofilament lines across the pond’s surface, making the area unusable for landing and resting. These physical barriers are considered a permanent solution that requires minimal maintenance once installed.
Utilizing Sensory and Scare Deterrents
Sensory deterrents rely on sight, sound, or taste to make the pond area feel threatening or unappealing to the geese, forcing them to seek safer habitat.
Visual Deterrents
Visual deterrents include devices like Mylar tape or reflective strips, which produce a flashing effect and humming sound when moving in the breeze. Predator decoys, such as plastic coyotes or alligators, can work temporarily. They must be moved every few days, however, to prevent the geese from becoming habituated to a stationary, non-threatening object.
Auditory Deterrents
Auditory deterrents range from motion-activated noise devices to specialized systems that broadcast recorded Canada Goose distress and alarm calls. These devices leverage the birds’ natural fear response. Their effectiveness depends on varying the sounds and timing to avoid predictability. In residential areas, be mindful of local noise ordinances before deploying loud devices like noise cannons.
Taste Repellents and Hazing
Taste repellents are non-toxic chemicals applied to the grass that make grazing unpleasant. Products containing methyl anthranilate (MA) irritate the geese’s trigeminal nerve and mucous membranes, causing them to move elsewhere for food. Anthraquinone-based repellents work by causing a temporary post-ingestional sickness, which teaches the geese to avoid the treated area. These repellents are most effective when applied to a 50 to 100-foot buffer zone around the pond. Finally, active hazing using trained Border Collies provides a highly effective, non-contact method of harassment that convinces the flock the area is under constant threat.
Legal and Ethical Considerations
Before implementing any aggressive measures, it is important to understand the legal protections afforded to Canada Geese. They are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). This law makes it illegal to pursue, hunt, capture, kill, or possess the birds, their nests, or their eggs without proper authorization.
Any action that involves disturbing or destroying nests and eggs, such as egg addling or oiling, requires a permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). While non-lethal harassment is generally permitted, any control method that results in the physical harm or “take” of a goose is a violation of the MBTA. Landowners should check with local and state wildlife agencies to ensure compliance before initiating any long-term control plan.