Ask A Scientist© Biology Archive

 
name        Helen
status      other
age         40s

Question -  How do we discourage geese from congregating on our lawn?
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I have a friend that has a falconer's license and is a decent authority
on birds.  He has told me that as long as people, companies and golf
courses have plush, green lawns the geese are going to stick around.  He
noted two things that would probably be effective but not very socially
acceptable.  Introduce predators (like birds of prey or coyotes) and
plant tall brown prairie grass.  All that plush green grass is a prime
food source for the geese and having so much of it around doesn't give
them any reason to leave.

Joe Schultz
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Not easy - depends a lot on the whole situation, how big is the lawn, how
close to what kind of water, etc. Simplest - get an aggressive dog. More
complicated and maybe not possible for you, encourage tall dense vegetation,
especially along the water where geese come ashore - they like short lawn
grass, not tall things like cattails, phragmites, shrubs, etc. There are no
simple repellents or anything like that.
J. Elliott

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This has been a discussing in our area for some time and the answers have
been vague.  The only sure fire way is to have a dog.  Geese are very
brave and will challenge most animals including humans.  Dogs bother them
a great deal.  The Canada Geese are protected by law so extreme measures 
are not permitted.  Other than that, there is little that can be done.

Steve Sample
Steve Sample
York High School
Elmhurst, Illinois
60126
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