Geese

Started by RonM17 • 11 replies • 907 views

💬 Join us to post & get advice from 50,000 HOA & Condo leaders.

⚡ Takes 30 seconds

Already a member? Log in

RonM17 (Delaware)
Posts: 3

Posted:

Many communities are required to have storm water retention ponds. We have one in our community in Delaware that is attracting a lot of geese. With that comes their mess. What have your communities done to humanly control the geese population? Did you find your method useful? Did your method also reduce other birds/fowl from being attracted to your pond? We have bald eagles, blue herons, ducks and other birds/fowl that we don't want to harm or chase away. Was it low/high cost? Did your method come with continuance maintenance? Any other information/suggestions that you can offer?

Thank you

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

We have a company that had an issue with too many geese settling in. They tried a few methods. The one they tried that seemed to work is they installed speakers around the pond. They played sounds of another family of geese. Seems Geese are territorial. So they don't want to stay if they think they are going to be competing.

Another approach are specially trained dogs. Seen that before. They run the geese off. I take my dogs walking to that company's pond area. Seems they have taken some good approaches as don't see many geese just ducks.

I would consult a wildlife expert on the best humane approach. They can be quite messy. However, they also may be protected. Best to find out the laws in your area.

Former HOA President

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,059

Posted:

I'm of the expectation that you are discussing Canadian geese migrating south.

With this expectation, you need to be aware that there are federal laws regarding these geese.

I can offer the following:

Canadian geese from wildlifehelp.org

REGULATIONS AND PROHIBITIONS CONCERNING GAME AND FISH Delaware Statute

Controlling Conflicts with Resident Canada Geese in Maryland
From that site:

Note: Typically, Canada geese cannot fly from mid June to early July when they molt their primary flight feathers. Because it is illegal to harm Canada geese, harassment may not be an option during the flightless period. If there is a question about the legality of a technique in your area, contact the USDA Wildlife Services.

Preventing and Managing Waterfowl Damage from USDA

Hope this helps.

Tim

CjC
Posts: 210

Posted:

This is NOT my community but I have been reading about this story for the last month.

https://mdcoastdispatch.com/2018/07/04/290-geese-removed-from-ocean-pines-euthanized-by-usda/

PaaN
Posts: 219

Posted:

..... The geese, which were primarily collected around the community’s ponds, were humanely euthanized and donated to the Maryland Food Bank.

“All we’re trying to do is stop the pollution,” said Marty Clarke, a member of OPA’s Environment and Natural Assets Advisory Committee. “The pond filters to the creek and the creek filters to the bay.” .....

I hear they taste like greasy chicken.

YUMMY

PaaN
Posts: 219

Posted:

ps.

they, like most fowl, defecate 1/3 to 1/2 their body weight daily

RonM17 (Delaware)
Posts: 3

Posted:

Thank you for your response

RonM17 (Delaware)
Posts: 3

Posted:

Thank you for your response. Yes, I am referring to Canadian geese. I'll have to suggest contacting the USDA for additional information.

CathyA3 (Ohio)
Posts: 6,299

Posted:

Two things that seemed to work in communities where I lived:

1. Netting in the ponds. The net lay just below the surface of the water, not obvious to casual observers, but ducks and geese can see it and won't want to swim in the pond. So they go elsewhere.

2. Swans. Another community "rented" a couple pair of swans (one for each pond) from a local farm that raised all kinds of birds. Swans are territorial and larger than Canada geese, so most geese will avoid that area. We still had some geese, but many fewer than had been hanging around before the swans arrived.

The nets are less work, obviously. The swans were semi-wild, needed to be trained to stay at the ponds, and needed to be fed and otherwise managed; pretty, though.

FredS7 (Arizona)
Posts: 927

Posted:

I remember a local Audubon Society reserve that had a serious goose problem. And the next year they were gone.

I assume they had a solution acceptable to the Audubon Society. Maybe check with them, see if they have any recommendations.

About the swans- I once lived in a complex with swans- didn't stop ducks from also taking up residence.

PaaN
Posts: 219

Posted:

They do, in fact, taste similar to chicken

Just be careful not to break a tooth on the #9 pellets

KellyM3 (North Carolina)
Posts: 2,239

Posted:

Hi Ron,

If your board REALLY wants to control geese, please bite the bullet (spend the large $$$) and hire a canine-based, goose abatement company. Nothing works better than properly trained Aussie Shepherds in harassing geese into leaving. Australian Shepherds, when properly trained, do NOT capture or "fetch" the geese....they herd them, which resembles fox-like behavior to Canada Geese.

1. A professional company will not allow the dogs to chaise goslings or even serve the area when gosling cannot fly
2. A professional company will also pause, in mid-summer, as geese molt feathers and temporarily cannot fly
3. You obtain a free, federal permit to allow the destruction of goose nests and the addling of eggs (deemed humane)
4. People will offer to let their dogs chase the geese......many dogs "fetch" and that's potentially harmful.

Get three bids....understand that it's an expensive service for what you think you're getting. Remember it's the geese that are NOT there that you're paying for so feasibility studies must work in reverse.

Good Luck....After ten years of geese (which our duck population fell to only three ducks, which are still on our community independently of the Canada Geese and the dogs chasing them, we "invested."

At its core, the dogs mimic a natural predator so any birds will soon learn that there is a risk to setting up home on your property. However, it will be more-naturally balanced. Many of our dues payers were upset to see our geese population drop from 125 birds to 15 birds. Before the dogs were hired, when wild foxes would enter our lake area, the same population would drop....and no one complained.

Good Luck and believe me on this one. The gimmicks won't work long.

🎯 You've read this entire discussion

Join the conversation with 50,000 HOA & Condo Leaders:

✓ Ask follow-up questions
✓ Share your experience
✓ Get expert advice
✓ Access 350,000 discussions

Create Free Account →

⚡ Takes 30 seconds

Already a member? Log in here