A few geese hanging around your property may not look like a problem. That is until they begin to poop.
Canadian geese can do much damage around your home. From eating planted crops and messing up your lawn to pooping in your yard, there’s no limit to the havoc these birds wreak when left unchecked.
Geese poop is very hazardous if it gets into water systems. Not mentioning the awful smell it generates. Therefore, it is crucial to get geese away as quickly as possible.
Keep reading if you want to learn how to stop geese from pooping in your yard.
How do you stop geese from pooping in your yard?
There are ways to get the goose situation under control. All you need to do is do the things the geese won’t like and they’ll keep their distance. Ready? Let’s go!
1. Guard nearby bodies of water.
If you’re looking to drive away the geese, you can effectively and conveniently use their affinity for water to your advantage.
If you erect barriers around bodies of water on your property, these birds will be less likely to spend time in those areas.
Since they also tend to hate tall plants, consider planting some bushes around your lake or pond to deter geese.
You can always use wire or mesh to keep geese away from pond or lake areas. Of course, this goose control solution only works for bodies of water that are not too large, e.g. when covering a large lake.
2. Dogs
Dogs aren’t just our sweet, cuddly pets. They help protect our homes and properties from unwanted visitors.
Any dog can keep geese out of yards, but three ideal breeds are best suited for the task. The Border Collie is a natural predator of the Canadian Goose and will not only startle them but make sure that they don’t come back.
That’s because it doesn’t playfully chase after them like, say, a beagle would. Among the other dog breeds, the predators you might want to use are the German shepherd and the Australian Cattle Dog.
German shepherds are highly intelligent and can be easily trained to help you with your geese’ problems. They can follow your instructions with as little effort as possible.
They are also very brave, so they will stand up to geese even if they try to threaten them. In contrast, the Australian Cattle Dog is very stubborn, meaning it won’t stop scaring geese off no matter how many times they return.
In addition, this breed has a lot of stamina, so it will keep chasing them. Birds away for a full day if need be. Consider getting a dog if you don’t have one yet.
3. Scare them with loud noises
A bird sounder is another type of device that can help deter Canadian geese or other species. Look for one that emits ultrasounds and goose distress calls.
Sonic repellents are particularly effective when trying to scare geese out of a certain area, although this method only works if you have the device on all the time.
Although this is a temporary fix, most silencers will get the job done.
The sound typically lasts for approximately two minutes and it is repeated every ten minutes or more.
Read Also:
- What is the Best Fertilizer for Rhubarb?
- How To Tell If Your Lawn Needs Lime [ 7 top signs].
- How Fast Do Fig Trees Grow?
4. Remove bird food/ feeders
Bird feeders attract birds, geese inclusive. Take them away and there’s a good chance the geese won’t visit as often.
Most geese are searching for a place to feed and best. A bird feeder is only an invitation to them.
You can also play smart by placing bird feeders in other areas of your property where you would rather have the geese be. This would serve as a distraction.
If you have a pond on your property where geese like to gather and are visited by people, tell them not to feed the geese. They will keep coming back for more, making your efforts to get rid of the geese useless.
5. Goose repellent
One of the best Canadian goose repellents to try, especially if you’re looking for an effective solution to your problem, is something called liquid bird repellent. It works and isn’t even dangerous to use.
A goose repellent will keep geese off your lawn or other areas where it is sprayed, thanks to a substance it contains called methyl anthranilate.
Although the mixture is safe to use, it exudes a grape scent when sprayed which acts as a natural repellent against geese by irritating the bird’s sense of smell.
In case you don’t want to spend your hard-earned money on such a solution, you can always use grape Kool-Aid and spray it on your grass or lawn. Believe it or not, it contains methyl anthranilate.
This is the same element that gives it its grape taste. It will stop geese from pooping in your yard.
6. Keep them from nesting
If the geese you are trying to get rid of have been around for years, they must have several nesting sites around your home or property.
A good way to make them go away is to keep them from nesting. You can do this by disrupting these spots.
Take time to observe their nesting habits and find out exactly where these places are, then act.
Place heavy rocks at these spots and the geese will be unable to live there. You may also consider getting professional help in moving the geese’s nest and eggs to another location.
Conclusion
Geese are beautiful creatures but they have their flaws too. A flock of geese is loud; no matter where you live, the noise a flock of geese makes will be a nuisance and distracting.
Goose poop in the yard is not a pleasant experience.
Not only are their droppings large and messy, but they produce a rotten smell that can travel for hundreds of feet and make living nearby very miserable.
Apply these methods to stop geese from pooping in your yard and wave them goodbye for good.
