COMMERCIAL GOOSE REPELLENTS
Canada geese are grazers, preferring short-grass areas adjacent to water sources in which to forage, such as lawns, golf courses, cemeteries and athletic fields. Large numbers of geese foraging in these urban/suburban settings can be a nuisance due to the amount of fecal matter they leave behind (approximately 1⁄2#/goose/day), and the amount of damage they can inflict on turf grass areas through over-grazing. Geese can also decimate crops, such as alfalfa, winter wheat, oats, buckwheat, soybeans and even corn, when the cobs are within 38” of the ground. Damage to crops occurs via foraging and trampling. In regions where open water and a reliable food source are available year-round, geese have formed resident populations which no longer migrate. These populations continue to increase in size as their offspring also become resident geese.
Repellents can be effective in controlling the number of geese frequenting an area, but can be costly, due to the large quantities needed to be effective, and the need to reapply after periods of precipitation. Frequent reapplication in turf-grass areas is also necessary to ensure adequate coverage during the growing season, especially after mowing. Therefore, other methods of damage prevention are preferable over the use of repellents, whenever feasible. Damage control methods, such as hazing, can be used in conjunction with repellents for greater success. Additional methods include temporary, emergency measures such as the placement of electric or barrier fencing between the foraging area and water source. More permanent solutions include the planting of wetland buffers, and population management as a result of hunting pressure. Strategic placement of crop fields can also be a factor in reducing damage by Canada geese. Crops that are susceptible to grazing should not be placed adjacent to ponds and lakes in areas where Canada geese pose a problem. Rather, these areas may be more suitable to the establishment of hayfields and pasture areas, which are more resilient to the effects of trampling and grazing, and could act as a lure to prevent geese from traveling to the more susceptible crop fields.
Refer to Table 5 for a listing of commercial goose repellent products and the manufacturer/source information. Table 6 lists pricing and coverage information for each repellentoutlinedinTable5. ContactinformationforsourcesisincludedinAppendixIo fthis handbook.
Three of the four repellent products listed in Table 5 contain methyl anthranilate as the active ingredient. Methyl anthranilate is a human and livestock food flavoring that is derived from concord grapes. It is safe to use and environmentally friendly, but in studies undertaken by USDA’s National Wildlife Research Center, the repellent has had very limited success in controlling the grazing of geese on turf grasses. The chemical was effective when first applied, but its effectiveness dramatically decreased four days after application, rendering the repellent impractical due to cost and labor constraints. The reader is invited to pursue additional information concerning this study by clicking on the following link :
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife_d...pubs/96-14.pdf. More information concerning avian repellents is provided in the following USDA National Wildlife Research Center publication
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife_d...bs/aver027.pdf.
http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/assista...t_handbook.pdf