How to Get Rid of Geese: Goose Control Products

HOW TO GET RID OF GEESE

GOOSE CONTROL  PRODUCTS REVIEW 

      Many people research how to keep geese out of their yards and off of their properties.  Most of our customers tell us that they get their information and products from internet.  This is all well and good but if you do not know how to use the information and products properly you will lose your hard earned money and still have geese in your yard.

   Canada geese are beautiful birds. Their honking high in the sky signals signs of spring and fall migration.  In many cases these beautiful geese become a territorial nuisance and unwelcome guests to our properties. So exactly how do you resolve this nuisance geese issue by yourself? 

    There are several products that can be purchased as 'deterrents'. Each one has its advantages and disadvantages.  There are coyote effigies in many forms, lawn spray on deterrents from different companies, noise makers, streamers, bird bangers, motion detecting sprinkler and bottle rockets.  We have seen alligator heads and fake swans used also.  There are blinking lights that turn on at night and various types of string grids and borders to stop geese from landing or walking on your property.  There are many product to deter geese from eating your grass, pooping on it and when nesting, attacking people.

    There are several lawn treatments that claim to repel geese.  Flight Control Plus is what we use if our client prefers not to use dogs for one reason or another.  This liquid is effective against repelling geese because it uses a visual deterrent and a physical deterrent.  When Flight Control Plus is applied to lawns it makes the grass look different to the geese than untreated grass.  The physical deterrent is when the geese eat the treated grass it upsets their stomach.  The Canada geese put two and two together and decide not to eat this funny looking grass anymore because they get stomach distress.  The geese, then, ultimately decide to find someone else's lawn to feed on.  Flight Control Plus does not wash off with rain or snow.  It will also lasts for a few lawn cuttings.  This is beneficial because it does not have to be applied as much as other spray on goose juices.

    Coyote or dog effigies can be effective for a while and in some instances work depending on the size of the area.  Effigies are not a maintenance free tool however.  In order to give them a chance to work they must be moved frequently. If they are placed at the center of a soccer field for instance it may stop geese from landing initially. Geese will land as a far away as possible from it after a while. They will then move closer and closer to it until they realize it is not real or a moving threat.  However, if the decoy is moved throughout the day it may fool the geese into thinking it is real.  We have seen them work better in smaller areas where geese do not have an alternate landing area.  There is also a dead goose decoy that is sold. We have never seen one employed.  The reviews on them are not very good.  

    Plastic swans in your pond or lake usually do not work well at getting rid of geese unless you had a live aggressive pair of swans nesting there before.  Again if you place a plastic swan in the middle of a 15 acre lake a flock of geese will just land far enough away from it to feel safe.  Once they realize Mr. Swan is always in the same spot, Canada geese will continue to come.   If you have two, 1 acre ponds and one pond has a live pair of geese in it and the other a fake, the set up will probably work.  The live swans are giving the fake swans some credibility.

    There are large propane noise canons that can be purchased that blast off on timers.  These work if you are in a large unpopulated area. Otherwise your neighbors will hate you and call the police. These are somewhat appropriate for farmlands and out of the way golf courses. But like the other tools the direction and location of the canon is critical and needs to rotated on a frequent basis.  The time of day would also be critical as you would not want a noise canon going off while people are golfing.

    There are solar yellow blinking lights that turn on when it gets dark to deter geese from roosting in your pond our lake. On small ponds these can be effective as geese cannot get far enough away from them.  If one blinking yellow light is placed on a 20 acre lake geese will just stay far enough away from it for their comfort.  These lights are relatively expensive so purchasing many could be cost prohibitive.  These lights also do not work during the day.  Used in the correct manner for night roosting geese they can be effective.

    Setting up a grid system with string  or wire on a pond is considered inhumane as geese may not see the grid and get tangled up in it. This could lead to broken legs, wings or death if the goose gets snagged in an awkward position and drowns.  I have seen some grids set up on flat roofs to deter geese but they also become a nuisance to HVAC guys who service air conditioners.  One simple thing we have seen work quite well is a rope used to separate a pond from a lawn.  If geese are wading out of a pond and onto your lawn, a 1/4" rope strung about 8" off the ground will deter geese from crossing over it.  Geese are  somewhat lazy and do not like having to fly over it for some reason. It is a real simple set up depending on how far you need to stretch the rope to keep geese away.  We use 18" flat wooden stakes  (Menards,Walmart ) and drill a hole at the top of it each one. We place the stakes 6'-8' apart and tie knots at each end.  Due to weathering, the rope will sag so leave room to pull the stakes further apart from each end.  I am truly amazed at how simple this is and how well it works. If the rope stretches and falls to the grass however, the geese will cross over it. So keep it raised up to be effective. 

     Canada geese are relentless once they find a place to their liking.  More than likely it will not be the same geese visiting your property every day as geese love to property and pond hop.  Your efforts must be as relentless as their willingness to stay. If one thing does not work, try another or try it in a different manner and location.  Remember you are dealing with nature and wildlife and both are pretty unpredictable.  Be inventive and consistent using your Canada goose deterrents and you will have a better chance at success.  Please always remember to be humane and considerate to your neighbors.


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Canada Goose Egg Addling DIY

Mamma Goose Standing Guard

EGG ADDLING STEPS  -  Do It Yourself

   Egg addling is the term used for rendering goose eggs non-viable. This  prevents goslings from hatching. Egg addling has an effect in reducing the resident Canada goose population. Not only are the year’s hatchlings reduced, but when goslings mature they tend to nest in the same area, adding their offspring to the local population. After one to two failed nesting seasons, mother goose is apt to move her nest to a different area next year.  If you have a nesting goose population and have the gumption to take on this task yourself the below information will guide you through the steps.  Before starting, check your individual state's requirements by contacting your Department of Natural Resources' Waterfowl Biologist.
    There are different egg addling methods. These include: Egg Oiling,  Nest and Egg removal, replacement with dummy eggs, shaking or puncturing eggs. RMGC egg addling is performed by oiling eggs, in compliance with The National Wildlife Control Operators Association and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) protocols. 
    The procedures to obtain an Illinois state permit and federal registration to addle resident Canada goose eggs are not complex, nor does it cost money. In Illinois, a permit must be requested through the IDNR with  the property address and anticipated number of nests and eggs to be destroyed.  If you are an ambitious homeowner and familiar with waterfowl, the IDNR may extend a permit to you.

1.) OBTAIN A PERMIT

       ​Contact the Illinois Department of Natural Resources in your state for a permit. This is a must do and absolutely needed. Follow the directions on the permit application. They are pretty easy and self explanatory forms. In Illinois we have to deal directly with the state DNR. Most states use the U.S. Fish and Wild Life Service reporting system. https://epermits.fws.gov/eRCGR/geSI.aspx

2.) LOCATE NESTS

       Geese build nest in a variety of places. Normally they are close to water and on islands. However, we have seen nests built in planters, in parking lots, on roofs and on balconies.  Some of these in crowded shopping malls.  Depending on your area, we will walk along shore lines, paddle kayaks, climb up on roofs to look for nests. Once they are found we will mark them, usually with a small flag, and record them on a site map.  We will do this with two handlers and sometimes a dog due to the aggressiveness of the nesting pair of geese during the spring season. Mamma goose must be chased off the nest. She can be stubborn.

3.)ADDLING THE EGGS
      When nests with eggs are located,  a float test must be performed on the eggs to assess development. If eggs are in the earlier stages and do not float,  they are coated with 100% food grade corn oil to prevent oxygen from reaching the embryo, rendering the eggs non-viable.  They are put back into the nest so the mother goose continues to incubate her clutch. If eggs are developed and can float, they cannot be humanely addled. They are replaced into the nest and left to develop. This is why you must take action as soon as geese start to nest.
   If the oiled eggs are not replaced and the goose is still fertile, she may re-lay her eggs.  Once the incubation period has past, the eggs are removed and buried off site.
The nest is then destroyed and removed.  This sometimes encourages geese to leave the site and not return to nest.


4.) REPORTING AND DOCUMENTING
    For each site visit, RMGC will record the location of nests, number of eggs addled and plot the data on to a site map. This information is then used for annual reporting to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. If you choose to do it yourself the same procedure must be followed. If you are reporting back to the USFWS it has to be done on line and it less complicated.

5.) PRECAUTIONS
      Nesting geese are very aggressive. Keep this in mind when deciding whether to do this yourself or hire a company like ours to do the work.  Always work in teams of two so one person can stand guard.  Often the geese will leave the nest when approached but fly back towards you to protect their nest.  This is where an large open golf umbrella comes in handy. By holding it up the goose will flap its wings on the umbrella versus your head.  Some people will also use a trash can lid. But in my opinion they are too small.


If you decide this task is not something you want to tackle, give us a call and we can do all of the above for you at one low price.



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Spring Wild Canada Geese Control

Spring Goose Control 

    Late February through March Canada Geese start to pair up for the spring and look for ideal nesting properties.  Canada Geese are monogamous and mate for life.  This is the time of year when pairs of Canada geese either return to their place of nesting from previous years or look for a new place.   More times than not they will return to the same general area to nest. They may not nest in the exact same location but they will nest on the same lakes, ponds, parking lots etc..

    Why are Canada geese so habitual when selecting a nesting spot?  We believe, and according to the experts, it has to do with familiarity and safety.  Geese who have had successful hatches are imprinted to believe that they found a good spot free of predators, hunters and disturbances. In essence, they have found a good neighborhood to live and raise their young.

    On the contrary, geese that have had unsuccessful hatches are unlikely to return to that place because it is a bad neighborhood for one reason or another.  Given the choice, geese will nest where there is less pressure from predators and human intervention.  This is why our Nest and Egg Depredation Program is so successful.

    Spring goose control is so important to our  Nuisance Geese Management Program.  Without spring goose control the population of wild geese will continue to grow and flourish. Our humane methods of hazing wild geese with our goose dogs, and other proprietary methods, ensure that when geese leave they know they are leaving an area not conducive to nesting or raising their young.  These wild geese find themselves being chased off lawns, into water, then once in the water, chased out by one of our dogs.  This is too much pressure for them.  The geese leave to find another home where they can roost, nest and raise their young in peace. The loss of  a nest by a wild Canada goose pair, can lead to them leaving town and flying all the way back to the Arctic.

    Recent study, discussed here, in National Geographic,  found more than half the resident geese tracked during a satellite-monitoring project, migrated to Canada when their nests failed. Another study found that 44 percent of geese in New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont headed north when they had no young to care for.

    Researchers tracked one female goose who nested every year in front of the same Toronto office building until it lost its clutch of eggs. Then, it flew to extreme northern Québec, on the fringes of the Arctic. “If it hadn’t lost its nest, it would have stayed in the plaza outside of shipping and receiving all summer,” researchers reported. 

   If you are tired of having Canada geese on your lawn, in your pond, lake or at your place of business all spring and summer, you have to stop the spring cycle of nesting and the fall cycle of pond hopping and roosting by migratory and resident geese.  Resident geese that find your property to their liking in the fall will be sure to return in the spring.

    Rescue Me Goose Chasing employees use all the Certified Goose Management training we received at the National Wildlife Control Operators Association (NWCOA) and our experience to Get Rid of Geese...FAST!  

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What's with all the Canada Geese?

Seemingly every year the Canada goose population rises. 

Why are there so many Canada geese now versus thirty or forty years ago?

    Canada geese were almost eradicated by hunting, egg gathering and the draining of wetlands in the early 1900's. The government stepped in and Federally protected them in 1918. They were also raised in captivity by a Waterfowl Research Supervisor named Forrest B. Lee, also known as Father Goose, and spread throughout the U.S. to increase their population in the early 1960's. In January 1962, Forrest had been studying a flock of large Canada geese on Silver Lake at Rochester, Minn., and invited waterfowl experts in for trapping and further examination. The Silver Lake flock turned out to be Branta Canadensis Maxima, the Giant Canada Goose, a species long thought to be extinct. As it turned out, the species was not extinct and additional small populations would also surface later.

    In 1964, the Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center was built near Jamestown. Its first director, Harvey K. Nelson, talked Forrest into leaving Minnesota and in 1965, the family moved to Jamestown. Forrest would head the center’s Canada goose production and restoration program. Forrest soon had 64 pens with 64 breeding pairs of screened, high-quality birds. Forrest worked long days, seven day a week and often stayed overnight at the propagation building if it was needed. This large Canada goose production project involved private, state and federal resources and relied on the expertise and cooperation of many individuals. Forrest even worked with scientists in Japan and Russia.  By the end of 1981, more than 6,000 giant Canada geese had been released at 83 sites in 26 counties in North Dakota. 1.

    In one year those 6,000 geese or 3,000 pairs could reproduce an average of 6 goslings. That's 18,000 more Canada geese! With those eighteen thousand pair up and along with the original 6,000 they could produce another 72,000 the following year.  It is easy to see why the Canada goose has become a nuisance not only in the United States and Canada but world wide.  Their survival rate and proliferation is astounding.

    Individual state Departments of Natural Resources have tried to control the goose population through hunting.  Some have extended the goose hunting season or increased bag limits. None of this seems to be working.  To make matters more difficult, us humans have created very nice areas for Canada geese to nest, roost and eat.  We have put in very attractive neighborhoods, golf courses and corporate centers with retention ponds, detention ponds and decorative ponds.  All surrounded by their favorite food, lush, fertilized green grass.  To make it even more attractive to these nuisance geese, there is a lack of a natural predator in these areas. The geese can go about their business without a worry.

   People have become so accustomed to seeing them. Geese have become welcome guests by nature starved city dwellers.  Some people have taken to feeding and claiming them as their own.   Many resident geese no longer have a fear of people and have become friendly.  This is where human and geese conflicts arise. Friendly geese become aggressive and territorial during nesting season. Suddenly what was a good idea in the fall has become a horrible idea in the spring.

    Waterfowl professionals have said that if you were to take any giant Canada goose in existence today, you could trace it's bloodlines back to an egg that Forrest placed in an incubator or a gosling he held in his hand.  It is incredible what started out as a project to save a species of geese has turned into a world wide problem.  I often wonder if Forrest was alive today what he would think of what has happened. Would he do something different?

    In the meantime we are considering names for our next two goose dogs. I think one should be named Forrest and the other Lee.

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1. Bismark Tribune

Goose Dogs vs. Goosinator

GOOSE CONTROL DOGS VERSUS THE GOOSINATOR

Cosmo, one of our goose dogs, looking over 20 acres of  goose free lake that he works.

    If you are in the market and have a need for goose control you are probably doing what many informed consumers do and that is search the internet for different methods and ideas.  You probably have come across many different goose control companies and many different gimmicks to control geese.  What we feel is the most long lasting and effective method is putting predatory pressure on geese with our professional goose dogs.  Geese feel unsafe, fear for their lives and leave.

    We have had customers ask us about a product called the goosinator.  It is a big orange airplane that runs on  the ground, water and ice to haze geese off of properties.  After asking the question and before we answer they usually say that it is very expensive vs. our service.  I have never seen one in person but I have looked at the product videos on it's webpage.

    It is on that webpage we found some misguiding information when comparing the goosinator to a goose dog.

    The first incorrect comparison is the price point the site presents. The website quotes a price range of $300 to $500 per week for goose dog services!  WOW! That is not realistic, average or even representative of typical costs. I am not sure if anyone is charging that much for their goose dog services, but if they are it would have to be for very very large areas and areas that require a lot of time to service. Not typical.  Perhaps that is the target consumer though. I could tell you that we charge as little as $35 per week for our service.

    One very important comparison that is left out is that the goosinator does not have the  predatory advantage a dog has.  It is big,it is loud and it is orange with a big grin on its effigy.  However, the geese see it as a nuisance and not a threat to their survival.  Much like mylar balloons, dog effigies and blinking yellow lights the goosinator is a nuisance.

    The second item that is left out is who is operating the remote control behind it in the early morning, in the blowing snow, in the cold, in the driving rain, at night and whenever geese are present.  Some one has to be out there in all types of weather when geese are around.  The facility managers I know are paying their staff good money to take care of more important things than the geese.  Who on the Facilities Staff is going to be charged with dropping what they are doing, getting the plane out of storage and walking it out to chase the geese?  How much is the company going to pay that facility guy on their payroll to do that?  We love spending time outdoors with our dogs.  Our dogs love spending time outdoors doing a job. We have a passion for what we do and it is another one of the reasons our service is so successful.  We are relentless. 

    It happens on occasion in the spring where we work in areas densely populated with geese, that  a family with goslings will wander onto a property from a neighbor's.  We use our highly trained dogs to gently herd the growing goose family back to where they came from.  We do not see being able to do this gentle work with this blaze orange device that has a motor and propeller on the end of it.  We can do this work efficiently and quietly in the morning without waking neighbors that are sleeping. Our dogs herd them slowly and gently, encouraging the goslings and parents to retreat to where they nested.

    The biggest advantage I see with the goosinator is that it can go on ice. The only issue with this is that migrating and resident geese look for open unfrozen water in the winter to roost on. They are not looking sit on ice. Maybe this is a bigger issue in Denver.  In any event, this is where we have used the predatory pressure of our dogs and a proprietary technique.  Geese if they are on the land will go to water/ice for safety.  The presence of a dog on the surrounding land is strong enough of a predatory influence to force the geese to look for somewhere else to go.

     In summary, Goose Control dog services, like RMGC, are relatively inexpensive.  Goose Dogs can and do go in water, on grass, on sand, on snow and ice. They also provide a real life predator on your property that threatens the safety of geese. Predatory pressure is something the blaze orange, goosinator airplanes cannot and do not replace. The goosinator does need a full time operator to haze geese.  What you will need to decide is if hiring a service is better, cheaper and more effective than spending thousands on the goosinator and hours of your own time or your employee's time in all kinds of weather operating the device until geese leave.

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How to Get Rid of Canada Geese From Your Property, DIY

Sparky staring the geese down in a small pond

    How to get rid of Canada geese and Do it yourself ?  If you are willing to put in the time, effort and planning is more complicated. There are a few ways you can Do It Yourself. If you are an "on the go" type family, the best answer is to hire us and we will take care of things for you while you tend to your busy life. 

    Our previous blogs have talked about establishing a predator on your property with our highly trained Australian Shepherd goose dogs.  If you are a dog owner you have a leg up on those who are not.  However, you will only be as successful as the effort you put into it.  The most important thing you must remember is that you and your dog cannot harm the geese and you cannot haze geese with goslings in the spring.  Geese are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty act of 1918.  You will want to read up on this act before you begin also.

    Any dog with a decent amount of prey drive and good obedience could probably do the job.  The best breeds are herding breeds based on their instincts.  That is why we use Australian Shepherds.  We know several goose control companies that do not use herding breeds that do quite well because they took a lot of time to train their dogs properly. That leads to the question "What do I need to train my dog to do?"

    First your dog needs to be obedient. He or she should respect you and your commands when given. Your goose dog should know the basic sit, stay, down, and come when called with distractions. By that we mean, your dog will obey you regardless of the squirrel in the tree, the rabbit on the ground or the neighbor's dog barking at him from next yard.  If your dog has these commands on him or her you are another step ahead.  Next, your dog should have a desire to chase or herd geese when he or she sees them.  If it does, you are ready to start to have some fun keeping geese off your lawn and out of your pond. If your dog has no desire to chase, you will need another dog. I am a firm believer in the saying, "You cannot put in what God left out."

   Let's use the premise that you own a two acre property. One acre of that is a pond that geese frequent, walk out of and poop on your lawn creating a mess of your shoes and your kids shoes and lawn mower.  All of you track it into the house where your significant other starts to complain about all the poop and bacteria being dragged into the home.

    To start your DIY goose control program with your dog, ensure he will stop if you need him to before he touches a goose should he get too close.  When the geese land on your lawn have your dog heel next to you as you walk out to the yard.  Let the geese see him. They will start to bob their heads and honk.  Give your dog the command you have chosen that tells him it's OK to herd or chase the geese.  We use herding directional commands. Let's assume you just say "Go boy!"  The geese that are on your lawn will more than likely run straight into your pond for safety.  This is where the fun begins.  Geese are not accustomed to a predator swimming after them. Have your dog sit at the bank and look at the geese. Sometimes this is enough to intimidate them to leave. If they stay, they will go the the side opposite your dog. Give your dog the "Go Boy!" command again. If he has the prey drive and the ability to swim he will get in the water and start swimming after the geese.
    It is important that you do not leave the geese to safely roost in the pond.  If you do, by the time you get back in the house they will be back on your lawn munching on your grass.  You must get the flock out of the pond each and every time.
   If you do this, each time the geese return there will be less of them.  The last remaining geese will be the most stubborn. Realize that each time they arrive you need to drop what you are doing, get your goose dog, and haze the geese until they leave.
    This is where most people and companies fail.  Either they chase the geese in the pond and leave them there or they do not continue the effort each time the geese show up because they are watching a movie, a football game or cutting the grass. The geese are smart and will change the times they arrive on your property so be prepared to expect the unexpected. They will stay out in the rain, the cold and even the snow if they are resident geese.  You must be as stubborn and willful as they are.  You must brave the elements with your goose dog no matter the day of week, the time of day or holiday.
    
    If you cannot meet the challenges above, the geese will win and you will not reclaim the beauty of your property.  This is what makes us so successful. We never let our dogs lose.  We direct our dogs each and every time no matter the day, the weather or holiday to chase the geese until they leave.  If you have the time, energy and persistence you will be successful.  If you do not, well, we Get Rid of Geese . . . FAST!  
    


Click below for more information on our goose control techniques and why they work.

    

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What will Canada Geese Remember Next Year About Your Property?

  It is that time of year when the morning sunrises and evening sunsets are met with flying flocks of Canada Geese honking overhead.  Ah the sights and sounds of autumn. These flocks often head to familiar places where they safely stopped the year before to graze, rest and roost for days before gaining enough energy and fuel to fly on further south.  The sight of a flock of geese on a soccer field, golf course fairway or backyard is a signal to other migrating flocks that it is safe here to land.  This is why hunters use decoys to great success.  It is a calling card to others.

   A well planned fall goose control program can stop this cycle of migrating geese landing on your property.   Our Certified Goose Management programs put predatory pressure on migrating geese.  They will learn that your property has a very live and active predator on it.  This intimidates the migrating geese to move on and find somewhere else this year and next to rest, roost and eat.  It is very effective because we do not let our dogs stop until the geese are gone.  If the geese run to the pond or lake on your property we will continue our efforts there.  Our dogs will swim after them.  
   
    Our swimming goose chasing dogs are a game changer!  Geese see water as a safe place to go. Typically, a fox, coyote or even a wolf will not swim after geese.  This is why they always fly to the nearest body of water for safety.  But when our dogs get in the water and start swimming after them, the heads start bobbing and they start their distress honks.  It does not take long before they are gone.  Migrating geese are also much more sensitive to a dog's pressure. 
   
 Local or resident geese see people walking their dogs quite often.  Most of the time on a leash.  This gives the resident geese a false sense of security.  Our dogs usually can get much closer to resident geese than migratory geese for this reason.  Most geese coming down from the Canadian tundra see predators often that have dinner on their minds.  These geese do not take chances and give predators and our dogs a wide berth.  

We can stop the cycle of migratory geese in the fall visiting your property with our Certified Techniques, our highly trained dogs (that swim), and a few proprietary methods.  We can put an end to the droppings and the mess the geese make.  If you would like to reclaim your property and improve your lawn, school yard, soccer field etc.  Give us a call.  We would be glad to help.  

Next fall, what will the geese remember about your property? Is it a safe place or not for them to stop?

    

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