Canada Geese are common in many landscapes, drawn to the open spaces of suburban yards, parks, and golf courses. This often leads to significant problems for property owners, including property damage, noise, and the accumulation of droppings. A single goose can deposit up to two pounds of feces per day, turning a well-maintained lawn into an unsanitary mess. Managing this issue requires a humane, integrated approach that makes your property unappealing without causing harm, while respecting federal wildlife regulations.
Habitat Modification to Discourage Presence
Canada Geese are primarily grazers, drawn to habitats that offer both feeding and safety. They instinctively prefer short, well-manicured lawns because the low vegetation provides clear sightlines to detect predators. A well-fertilized lawn is particularly attractive as it produces tender, protein-rich young grass blades. To disrupt this pattern, allow the turf bordering water sources to grow taller, ideally between 10 to 14 inches.
Taller grass creates a visual barrier, making the geese feel less secure and obscuring their view of potential threats. They will seek out areas where they can graze without such visual obstruction. Consider planting dense shrubs or tall, native grasses along the edges of ponds or shorelines to create a substantial buffer. A dense buffer 20 to 30 feet wide is highly effective at physically impeding their access from the water onto your lawn.
Eliminating supplemental food sources is another significant step in making your yard less attractive. Prohibit people from feeding the geese directly, as this encourages their presence and reliance on the area. Also, clean up fallen fruit from trees or spilled birdseed, which represent easy meals. By making the landscape feel less safe and reducing available food, you encourage the geese to relocate.
Physical Barriers and Exclusion Methods
Physical barriers are extremely effective when geese are flightless (during their summer molt or when walking with young) because they prefer to walk onto a site rather than fly. A low-level barrier fence is a practical solution, as geese are reluctant to step over even small obstructions. Fences made of woven wire, plastic mesh, or netting should be at least 30 inches tall to prevent them from walking over.
For less visible perimeter control, use monofilament fishing line strung between stakes. Multiple strands of 20-pound test line, positioned at heights such as 6, 12, and 18 inches above the ground, deter walking geese. For water bodies, install a wire grid system by running thin wires or stainless steel cable across the surface. These wires should be spaced 10 to 15 feet apart and held 12 to 18 inches above the water, preventing geese from landing and forcing them to seek an alternative resting site.
Electric fencing is a more intensive but highly effective exclusion method, typically using two strands of polytape wire. These strands should be stretched taut at heights of approximately 8 and 18 inches above the ground. Contact results in a low-amperage shock, which is harmless but startling enough to teach them to avoid the area. These barriers interrupt the geese’s natural movement patterns and block access to preferred grazing and resting spots.
Visual and Auditory Deterrents
Visual and auditory deterrents exploit the geese’s natural fear responses, but require active management to maintain effectiveness. Reflective deterrents, such as Mylar tape or mirrored scare-eye balloons, use light and movement to create a disorienting environment. Mylar tape secured to stakes flutters in the breeze and produces an unsettling flashing effect. To remain convincing, the placement of these visual methods should be changed every few days to prevent the geese from becoming accustomed to them.
Motion-activated sprinklers equipped with sensors are highly effective because the sudden burst of water and movement startles the birds. This unexpected harassment makes the area feel unsafe and unpredictable, encouraging the geese to look for a calmer location. Predator decoys, such as those resembling coyotes or swans, can also be used. However, if a decoy remains in the same position for an extended period, the geese will quickly habituate to its presence and ignore it.
Auditory deterrents, such as devices that broadcast distress calls or predator sounds, can also frighten the birds. These methods are most successful when used in conjunction with visual deterrents and when the geese are first establishing themselves on the property. Consistency and variety in applying these techniques prevent the birds from learning that the threats are harmless.
Legal Requirements and Professional Assistance
Any action taken to deter Canada Geese must be non-lethal and humane because the birds are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). This law makes it illegal to pursue, hunt, capture, or kill the geese, their nests, or their eggs without a specific permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Violating the MBTA can result in substantial fines and potential imprisonment. Therefore, deterrence efforts should focus on scaring or excluding the geese from the property, which generally does not require a federal permit.
If a large, established population exists or nesting is occurring, contact a professional wildlife control service or the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services. These professionals know the legal requirements and can obtain necessary permits for intensive actions, such as nest destruction or relocation. While habitat modification and physical barriers are effective long-term strategies, persistent issues may necessitate the specialized knowledge and authorized methods professional assistance provides.