Nuisance geese on private property cause problems such as excessive droppings, property damage from grazing, and aggressive behavior during nesting season. Geese are attracted to environments offering easy access to water, safety from predators, and an abundant food supply. Addressing these issues requires a multi-faceted, non-lethal strategy to make the property unattractive. This approach involves modifying the landscape, implementing physical barriers, and utilizing sensory deterrents to encourage the birds to relocate.
Modifying the Landscape to Discourage Geese
Repelling geese begins by eliminating features that make a property desirable as a feeding or resting spot. Geese are highly attracted to short, tender grass, such as frequently mowed, fertilized, and watered lawns. Property owners must stop providing human food sources, as supplemental feeding eliminates the birds’ natural wariness and encourages congregation.
Altering the vegetation exploits the goose’s need for predator visibility. Allowing grass to grow to a height of 8 inches or more makes the area unappealing because the tall blades obstruct their line of sight, making them feel vulnerable. A more effective method is to replace preferred cool-season grasses, like Kentucky bluegrass, with less palatable alternatives, such as tall fescue.
For properties with water access, minimizing comfortable entry and exit points is important. Geese prefer to walk onto a lawn from the water’s edge. Planting a dense, unmowed buffer strip of native grasses, shrubs, or other plantings at least 20 to 30 inches tall along the shoreline disrupts this access. This vegetation strip, ideally 20 to 30 feet wide, creates a physical and visual barrier, forcing geese to seek easier access elsewhere.
Implementing Physical Barriers and Exclusion
Physical barriers directly block geese from accessing specific areas they favor for grazing or loafing. Low-level perimeter fencing is effective because geese generally prefer to walk rather than fly over short obstacles. A fence constructed of mesh, wire, or strong monofilament line, set at 24 to 30 inches high, is often sufficient to deter walking access to a lawn.
The barrier should be placed consistently around the entire area needing protection, particularly between the water and the grazing lawn. An alternative involves stringing multiple strands of monofilament fishing line, spaced at 4, 8, 12, 18, and 24 inches above the ground, to create a nearly invisible barrier. For small ponds or pools, a grid system of wires or netting suspended 12 to 18 inches above the water’s surface prevents the geese from landing, since they require open water for a safe approach.
Visual barriers are effective when used to break up large, open spaces, which geese favor for unimpeded views. Placing large boulders, planting dense groupings of shrubs, or installing low retaining walls disrupts the expansive, safe feeling of a property. These obstructions make the area less attractive by complicating the geese’s ability to monitor for danger and maneuver around the space.
Utilizing Behavioral and Sensory Deterrents
Active repulsion methods rely on frightening or annoying geese to condition them to avoid a location. Visual deterrents mimic a threat and include devices like mylar tape or reflective flags, which flash and move unpredictably. Decoys of natural predators, such as coyotes, can also be used, but must be moved frequently (ideally every few days) to prevent the birds from realizing the threat is static and harmless.
Motion-activated devices introduce an element of surprise, which is effective in hazing geese. Motion-activated sprinklers that suddenly spray water when a bird enters a protected zone are an excellent tool, as the unexpected movement and wetness cause the geese to flee. Auditory deterrents, such as recorded distress or predator calls, must be deployed sparingly and at irregular intervals to avoid habituation.
To maintain effectiveness, a regular rotation of different deterrent types is necessary, as geese quickly grow accustomed to any single, predictable threat. Alternating between a visual decoy and a motion-activated sprinkler prevents the birds from becoming comfortable with one method. Specialized tools, such as low-power lasers, can be used responsibly at dawn or dusk to move geese off the property, though local regulations should be confirmed before use.
Understanding Legal Protections and Professional Removal
Property owners must be aware that all Canada Geese are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). This means it is illegal to harass, injure, kill, or disturb the nests or eggs without a specific federal permit. Simple, non-lethal hazing and habitat modification are generally permitted, but any action involving touching or destroying a nest or egg is prohibited.
Chemical repellents are available, but their use is strictly regulated and typically only effective as taste aversion sprays on grass. Products containing active ingredients like methyl anthranilate or anthraquinone are legally registered to make the grass unpalatable. However, they must be reapplied after mowing or heavy rain, and commercial application often requires a state-certified license. Geese may also walk across treated areas to reach untreated ones.
If geese establish a persistent nesting site or a property is overwhelmed by a large, resident flock, escalation to permitted actions may be required. Property owners should contact their state wildlife agency or the USDA Wildlife Services. These agencies provide technical assistance and, in severe situations, issue permits for population control measures, such as egg oiling or nest removal, which must be performed by certified professionals.