The presence of geese on your property can be annoying. These animals can make loud noises, leave feces, and become aggressive. While many people like to feed geese, this will only invite more of these animals into your area and cause problems. Some communities gather and kill geese, but this is an inhumane way of dealing with the overpopulation of these animals. Eliminating access to food, scaring, and restricting reproduction are humane ways of dealing with geese.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Changing Habitat
Step 1. Avoid feeding the geese
Feeding geese actually invites more of these animals to your property. The swan will learn that it can get food from you and gather in the yard.
- Human food is unhealthy for geese. Do not feed geese even in public places, such as parks.
- Swans are very easy to tame, especially if they get most of their food from you.
- You can put up a sign in the related area to tell others not to feed the geese.
Step 2. Remove all potential food sources
Swans eat grass and garbage. Be sure to dispose of the trash properly, or place it in a place where the geese cannot access it. If you have plants in your yard that geese like, consider replacing them with other grasses.
- Replacing grass will only work if there is another source of food for the geese. Goose will still eat mostly short grasses and legumes if that is all that is available.
- You should use chemical repellents on the grass, such as anthraquinones, which trigger digestive irritation in geese. There are several antidotes available, many containing Methyl anthranilate, a chemical that makes grass taste bitter to geese.
Step 3. Let the grass grow tall
If the grass in the yard is high enough, about 15 cm, the geese will prefer to forage elsewhere.
- Allow the grass to grow tall in winter, and limit water and fertilizer applications in the spring.
- If you have a pond on your property, allow the grass to grow to 50 cm to prevent geese from gathering around it. Although unsightly, the geese will look for other nesting places.
- Geese prefer open spaces so they can freely see predators and feel safe. Tall grass will interfere with this feeling of security.
Part 2 of 3: Repel Swans
Step 1. Use a goose repellent dog
Border collies and other shepherd breeds can be trained to keep geese out of the area. This goose will perceive the dog as a predator and be reluctant to return to your area.
- Only dogs that have been specially trained in trainers should be used to repel geese.
- Don't let the dog catch or hurt the goose. If not properly trained, dogs can make geese move to waters, which are free from the threat of predators.
- If the goose builds a nest or raises its young, do not chase the dog away.
Step 2. Use distractions and animals as a temporary solution
There are several products on the market specifically for repel geese, such as fake alligator heads or plastic goose carcasses. The swans eventually got used to the tool, but it was enough to buy time to implement a more permanent plan.
- A fake dog or coyote can be more effective in areas where geese are already afraid of these animals.
- Keep these animals moving by placing them on a swivel (a kind of keychain string). The wind will make it appear alive to the goose. Move the animals around the property to maximize the effect.
Step 3. Drive away the goose with a loud noise
Sonic repellents can be effective in driving geese out of the area, but only briefly. Most sonic repellents have a timer and use a recording of a swan's voice to warn of danger. When they hear this sound, the geese will run away.
Like a diversion, sonic repellent is also only effective temporarily. Geese can quickly get used to loud noises. Sonic repellents are more effective on geese that recognize a moving threat, such as dogs or humans
Part 3 of 3: Controlling the Growth of the Goose Flock
Step 1. Learn how to prevent goose eggs from hatching
The humane way to prevent the development of a goose population is to practice what is called "addling". Goose eggs are greased with corn oil or completely removed from the nest in the early stages of growth.
- The addling technique prevents geese from raising their young, and limits the number of geese in the area.
- You must be well trained to apply addling. There are several courses available on the internet that guide you through the process.
- If you are domiciled in the United States, you must register with the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (U. S. F. W.) before implementing addling. Some states require special permits in addition to applying to the U. S. F. W.
Step 2. Find the nest
The swan's nest is located near the pond and the waters are free so you can see the surroundings clearly. Look near fence lines and other man-made guards.
- The geese often return to their nests from the previous year. Note the location of the goose nest so that it is easier to find.
- Swans build oval nests out of vegetation, mulch, and other similar materials. Goose feathers on the ground can indicate the nest is near.
- Do not approach the nest alone. When approaching a goose nest, it is important to work in small teams of 3-4 people. Geese will defend their territory actively and aggressively.
Step 3. Use vegetable oil to spay the eggs
Coat eggs that are young enough (less than 14 days old) with corn oil to prevent air from passing through the shell to the embryo.
- If you believe the egg is over 14 days old, it is no longer humane to coat the egg with corn oil.
- If the goose egg floats in the water, it means it is over 14 days old. Return the eggs to the nest. Do not dry the eggs as this can interfere with the outer protective layer of the shell.
Step 4. Remove the eggs from the nest
Another way to spay eggs is to remove them from the nest within 14 days of incubation. Dispose of eggs according to guidelines from the U. S. F. W.
- Your state may have other requirements for disposing of goose eggs.
- In some countries, eating goose eggs is as illegal as trading, buying or selling them.
- Once the eggs have been removed, you can scatter the nesting material so that the geese don't want to reuse them.
Tips
- If you are having trouble removing geese from your property, we recommend consulting a professional.
- Humanely repelling geese is often legal, but hunting these birds without a legal permit is illegal in some countries.
