Canada Geese and Goslings

ITD · 06-05-2013, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airedale1

Thank you! It saddens me that my attempt to share some of the natural beauty that we are blessed with here in the Lakes Region has descended into a diatribe on the evils of the Canada Goose. It's sad how a bit of poop on a lawn can so quickly turn people against one of God's creatures.

Anyways, thank you for the compliment and I am glad you enjoyed the images so here is another one.

Please let us know where you are, we'll share a few wheel barrows full so you can experience the joy also......

tis · 06-05-2013, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ITD

Please let us know where you are, we'll share a few wheel barrows full so you can experience the joy also......

All he has to do is come to visit and take a little walk, or TRY to walk. It is impossible to step around it, there is so much.

Airedale1 · 06-05-2013, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tis

All he has to do is come to visit and take a little walk, or TRY to walk. It is impossible to step around it, there is so much.

I am a wildlife photographer, this might come as a shock to you but I am familiar with the poop on the grass scenario. Do you think I'm using drones to take these images?

BTW as a wildlife photographer I find deer ticks and the threat of Lyme disease to be a much greater occupational hazard than a bit of bird poop. So, I guess maybe we should just get rid these guys as well.

ITD · 06-05-2013, 08:48 PM

Paul, you take great pictures.

Each adult goose produces 1 to 3 pounds of poop per day, when 30 to 40 come visiting that can be up to 120 pounds per day in a small area. It turns an area into a slip and slide with gross consequences if you fall. While they are photogenic they are a problem. I think it's time for open season on them, let the people who enjoy them, enjoy them on the dinner table. They also can be quite aggressive, especially to kids or people who they know are afraid of them.

I'm not a big fan of deer either, 200 pound mice in my opinion, but other than eating my wife's tulips they are not a problem, they don't fill the yard with 100 pounds of poop.

tis · 06-06-2013, 07:45 AM

Airdale, I don't think it is fair of you to be so sarcastic. You obviously don't have geese in your yard so they don't bother you. Going somewhere to take a picture is not the same as not being able to walk in your own yard. And maybe where you took the pictures, they had just arrived so there was only a "BIT" of bird poop. We do not have a BIT. We have a ton. Do you think poop is healthy to play in? And apparently you don't care if they could destroy Lake Winnipesaukee. Please allow the rest of us to have our opinions without your comments. If you don't think they are a problem, fine.

secondcurve · 06-06-2013, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airedale1

I am a wildlife photographer, this might come as a shock to you but I am familiar with the poop on the grass scenario. Do you think I'm using drones to take these images?

BTW as a wildlife photographer I find deer ticks and the threat of Lyme disease to be a much greater occupational hazard than a bit of bird poop. So, I guess maybe we should just get rid these guys as well.

Geese and Deer are not bad in themselves. Rather, it is the fact that both of these species have had explosive population growth due largely to man made conditions and this has led to damage and disease for people. The answer to the problem is to significantly reduce the population of both deer and geese. Unfortunately, many well intentioned individuals fight efforts to reduce populations due to their lack of understanding of the problem.

SAMIAM · 06-06-2013, 09:23 AM

As I've posted in the past, I've tried about everything...... roman candles, shellcrackers, fake foxes, even my grandson's remote controlled boat but the only thing that keeps them out permanently is the strings of flags that you buy in the party store......the kind that business' use for openings and such.
Using small stakes, string them so that the tips of the flags are 6" to 8" off the ground right at the waters edge. Don't leave any low spots for them to get around from the sides.
After a couple of weeks they left and don't even come in our bay anymore.
This is the 3rd year this has worked for us.....finally got rid of those fuzzy little water rats.

jerseyonbear · 06-06-2013, 09:44 AM

I have been told that a spray of cheap grapejuice will keep them away.

Airedale1 · 06-06-2013, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SAMIAM

As I've posted in the past, I've tried about everything...... roman candles, shellcrackers, fake foxes, even my grandson's remote controlled boat but the only thing that keeps them out permanently is the strings of flags that you buy in the party store......the kind that business' use for openings and such.
Using small stakes, string them so that the tips of the flags are 6" to 8" off the ground right at the waters edge. Don't leave any low spots for them to get around from the sides.
After a couple of weeks they left and don't even come in our bay anymore.
This is the 3rd year this has worked for us.....finally got rid of those fuzzy little water rats.

Bob, I hope some of the people on here who see the only solution to the Geese problem to be killing them, will follow your sage advice.

By simply educating yourself on the habits of these creatures you can learn how to keep them at bay. Typically, Canada geese cannot fly from mid-June to early July when they molt their primary flight feathers. They prefer to eat grass, especially young succulent shoots, found in abundance on mowed, fertilized lawns. Geese like short, succulent grass to feed upon because taller grass isn't as palatable to them. Mowed lawns also provide loafing areas where predators can be seen from a distance. By eliminating mowing at least 20 feet from shorelines or in even larger tracks of land, geese will be encouraged to shy away from these areas and look for safer spots with better food sources.

So, landscaping can play a huge part in whether or not you have geese on your property. If you choose to have a lush lawn as opposed to landscaping that needs little to no maintenance, you might as well be ringing a dinner bell for the geese.

tis · 06-06-2013, 01:42 PM

Samiam, I think I told you before that I did follow your suggestion and put out the party flags. They are all around my yard. This is the third year I think and they are starting to fade if you need someone needs proof that I used them. They did work pretty well the first year, but after that they haven't. Like everything they learned how to deal with them. Part of it is trying to keep them all at the right height as the water goes up and down, wave action, etc. but as soon as I adjust them, they find another place they can sneak under or over. They flap their wings a little bit even when they can't fly and manage to get over them. As I said, it is not like I only have a hundred feet of frontage, so it is hard to make sure they are all at the right height. So I am finally giving up on the flags too. But my fencing should be in tomorrow and I intend to get it up. I hope that works.

Chaselady · 06-06-2013, 09:03 PM

We had a real problem with geese on our lawn. They pooped all over and made it difficult for us to use our yard because they are territorial and aggressive. We discovered they would stay away if we shot near them with paintballs ( they are very protective ) not hitting them but scaring them. Also, if we let the dog stay in the yard they would go and find somewhere else to hang out.

06-06-2013, 09:44 AM	#8
jerseyonbear Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 97 Thanks: 94 Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts	Lawn Treatment I have been told that a spray of cheap grapejuice will keep them away.

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06-05-2013, 08:48 PM	#4
ITD Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonboro, NH Posts: 2,936 Thanks: 478 Thanked 695 Times in 390 Posts	Paul, you take great pictures. Each adult goose produces 1 to 3 pounds of poop per day, when 30 to 40 come visiting that can be up to 120 pounds per day in a small area. It turns an area into a slip and slide with gross consequences if you fall. While they are photogenic they are a problem. I think it's time for open season on them, let the people who enjoy them, enjoy them on the dinner table. They also can be quite aggressive, especially to kids or people who they know are afraid of them. I'm not a big fan of deer either, 200 pound mice in my opinion, but other than eating my wife's tulips they are not a problem, they don't fill the yard with 100 pounds of poop.

06-06-2013, 07:45 AM	#5
tis Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,770 Thanks: 755 Thanked 1,462 Times in 1,018 Posts	Airdale, I don't think it is fair of you to be so sarcastic. You obviously don't have geese in your yard so they don't bother you. Going somewhere to take a picture is not the same as not being able to walk in your own yard. And maybe where you took the pictures, they had just arrived so there was only a "BIT" of bird poop. We do not have a BIT. We have a ton. Do you think poop is healthy to play in? And apparently you don't care if they could destroy Lake Winnipesaukee. Please allow the rest of us to have our opinions without your comments. If you don't think they are a problem, fine.

The Following User Says Thank You to secondcurve For This Useful Post:
MariaNYC (04-11-2014)

06-06-2013, 09:23 AM	#7
SAMIAM Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 2,912 Thanks: 338 Thanked 1,689 Times in 594 Posts	As I've posted in the past, I've tried about everything...... roman candles, shellcrackers, fake foxes, even my grandson's remote controlled boat but the only thing that keeps them out permanently is the strings of flags that you buy in the party store......the kind that business' use for openings and such. Using small stakes, string them so that the tips of the flags are 6" to 8" off the ground right at the waters edge. Don't leave any low spots for them to get around from the sides. After a couple of weeks they left and don't even come in our bay anymore. This is the 3rd year this has worked for us.....finally got rid of those fuzzy little water rats.

The Following User Says Thank You to SAMIAM For This Useful Post:
Airedale1 (06-06-2013)

The Following User Says Thank You to Airedale1 For This Useful Post:
MariaNYC (04-11-2014)

06-06-2013, 01:42 PM	#10
tis Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,770 Thanks: 755 Thanked 1,462 Times in 1,018 Posts	Samiam, I think I told you before that I did follow your suggestion and put out the party flags. They are all around my yard. This is the third year I think and they are starting to fade if you need someone needs proof that I used them. They did work pretty well the first year, but after that they haven't. Like everything they learned how to deal with them. Part of it is trying to keep them all at the right height as the water goes up and down, wave action, etc. but as soon as I adjust them, they find another place they can sneak under or over. They flap their wings a little bit even when they can't fly and manage to get over them. As I said, it is not like I only have a hundred feet of frontage, so it is hard to make sure they are all at the right height. So I am finally giving up on the flags too. But my fencing should be in tomorrow and I intend to get it up. I hope that works.

06-06-2013, 09:03 PM	#11
Chaselady Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Melvin Village Posts: 309 Thanks: 150 Thanked 105 Times in 73 Posts	We had a real problem with geese on our lawn. They pooped all over and made it difficult for us to use our yard because they are territorial and aggressive. We discovered they would stay away if we shot near them with paintballs ( they are very protective ) not hitting them but scaring them. Also, if we let the dog stay in the yard they would go and find somewhere else to hang out.