The Canada goose thrives in a variety of habitats, often near areas close to people, such as neighborhood ponds, lakes, office complexes, parks and other developed areas. This closeness can become a frustration for homeowners and landowners when geese begin to molt in the summer, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division (WRD).
“Our offices report that calls about Canada geese tend to increase slightly in late June and early July. This increase is almost certainly caused by the fact that geese are ‘hanging around’ an area longer than usual,” says Tina Johannsen, Assistant Chief of the WRD Game Management Section. “Why? Because they cannot fly right now. Geese go through a molting process in the summer during which they lose their flight feathers and are in the process of growing new ones.”
What can you do if you have goose problems? Most times of the year, geese can be scared away with the use of harassment techniques. But, because geese cannot fly during the molt, these techniques may not work right now. During the molting season, WRD personnel encourage affected landowners and homeowners to be patient. The new feathers will soon grow in, and the geese will regain their ability to fly and will likely move on.
However, if geese continue to cause problems, here are a few tips to try:
- Harassment: First, try a variety of harassment techniques (also called hazing), including mylar balloons, noisemakers, or even trained herding dogs. These techniques may scare the geese away from your property.
- Chemical Repellents: Repellents can be sprayed on the grass in your yard to deter geese from feeding in treated areas. Most repellents require re-application after mowing or after rains.
- Physical Barriers: Barriers, such as wire or string 12-18 inches above the ground, or heavy vegetation (like cattails), along property lines or the shoreline can deter geese from using your property. This method requires consistency from the property owner and may not always be effective.
- Special Permits: In cases where the above techniques have been unsuccessful, homeowners who want to reduce or eliminate the goose population on their property can obtain a permit from their local WRD Game Management office (GeorgiaWildlife.com). This permit allows them to have geese captured and relocated to a suitable area, or allows them to legally and lethally remove the animals. The removal can be done by the homeowner or by a licensed nuisance wildlife trapper.
It is important to remember that Canada geese are a protected species under state and federal law. It is illegal to hunt, kill, sell, purchase or possess Canada geese except according to Georgia’s migratory bird regulations.
For more tips and information about Canada geese, go to GeorgiaWildlife.com/preventing-conflicts .
Photo: by Alan Hope
