Geese Removal & Prevention

Do you have a goose problem in or around your property? Contact us today to get rid of unwanted wildlife!

What are geese?

Geese are birds in the family Anatidae. These birds are intermediate in size and live mainly in the Northern Hemisphere. Goose biology and traits vary depending on the type of goose. However, the most common type in North America is the Canada goose.

Canada Goose Biology

Adult body length: 22 to 45 inches
Adult body weight: 10 to 20 pounds
Egg incubation period: 28 days
Broods per year: 1
Brood size: 4 to 8 eggs per clutch
Birthing Period: May through June
Age at which young leave nest: 28 days
Activity seasonality: Year-round
Primary diet: Aquatic vegetation, grasses, clover, waste grain, winter wheat, bird seed

What are the characteristics of Canada geese?

In the past, Canada geese inhabited marshes and rural lakes that provided them nutritious aquatic vegetation to feed on and ample space to rear their young. More recently, however, man-made lakes and ponds in residential communities have created many new artificial habitats that are attractive to Canada geese for nesting, feeding, and breeding.

Goose Nesting Habits

Nesting sites are typically near water with protective vegetation in close proximity. Planter boxes on high-rise office building balconies quickly become nesting sites of choice. Geese are aggressive; injuries to people or pets can often happen when a goose is attempting to defend its nest.

Goose Breeding Habits

Canada geese mate for life but will re-mate upon the death of their mate. Mating season is during spring and is approximately 25 days long. During this time, female geese usually lay one egg every other day. The geese abandon their nest a few days after hatching.

What kind of damage and issues do geese cause?

Canada geese can be destructive to grain crops, ornamental plantings, and more. They cause damage by trampling or consumption.

Geese are also known for littering the ground with their droppings. Aesthetic damages to suburban lawns, golf courses, office parks, and playgrounds contribute to extensive maintenance costs each year.

These birds ruin turf grass and lawns, cause bodies of water to become overgrown with weeds and algae, and create hours of clean-up only to have the same issues arise the following day.

Geese can also be disruptive and hazardous around airports. They can often get in the way of aircrafts taking off and landing as well as on roadways to motor vehicles.

Aggressive nesting geese are a real risk to business and property owners. Although rare, people could become injured when trying to remove or flee from an aggressive goose.

When are Canada geese most active?

Most goose problems will occur around March and continue through June during the goose nesting period. Breeding pairs begin nesting in late February and March. The laying of goose eggs begins soon after nest construction is complete.

Female Canada geese can lay one egg every day or so, with an average clutch size of five. Incubation of eggs begins after the last egg is laid and lasts about 28 days. After hatching, goslings are incapable of flight for about 70 days. Adult geese will molt their flight feathers near the end of June, rendering them flightless for 15 to 20 days. This is the best time to round up and safely remove nuisance geese.

How do I prevent Canada geese?

Canada geese are federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. They can only be removed with a permit issued by the US Fish and Wildlife Agency. This is why it’s important to take preventative measures to keep geese away from your property in the first place. Otherwise, you’ll need to get help from a professional wildlife company, like Varment Guard, to get these birds removed.

A few ways to prevent geese from nesting, breeding, and feeding on your property include:

Removing any food sources. Remove all bird feeders and wildlife feeders on your property.
Using a repellent. Apply a goose repellent to your grass. Make sure you re-apply every time you mow your lawn.
Blocking the Nesting Area. If you know where geese have nested previously, go to those nesting sites and place a large object.

Varment Guard Trained Goose Dogs

In addition to our goose services listed below, Varment Guard offers trained chase dogs. These dogs can be employed to frighten away geese and prevent them from resting, feeding, and nesting in problem areas.

Our dogs are trained and certified by the North American Goosedog Association. The dogs will not hurt the birds, only startle them to keep them from nesting.

LEARN MORE

How can Varment Guard help with my goose problem?

At Varment Guard, we can get and keep geese away from your property in a safe and humane way. Our professional goose control services include:

1. Goose Exclusion

To exclude geese from your property, we create a tight grid-work or back-and-forth parallel pattern that utilizes stainless steel wire or monofilament strands. These strands or wires can be suspended over bodies of water to keep geese from landing. Alternatively, complete enclosure of problem areas and structures that need to be protected can be achieved using bird nesting or wire mesh.

2. Goose Live-Trapping & Relocation

During molting season Canada geese can be herded into a holding pen. This can be done using a walk-in funnel-trapping made of wire fencing or netting. Trapped geese can be relocated humanely to a prearranged release site.

*TA Federal Permit is required to live-trap and relocate/remove Canada geese (per 50 CFR 21.41a*

3. Chemical Control Repellents for Geese

Varment Guard uses a non-toxic applicant derived from grapeseed oil that renders lawns and vegetation inedible, habituating the geese to recognize the area as undesirable.

4. Goose Harassment & Intimidation

Visual scare devices have been used as short-term deterrents on Canada geese.

Sound emission devices, particularly those which broadcast the alarm calls typical of Canada geese, have shown a degree of success in removing geese.

Remote control vehicles can be employed in situations where we don’t want technicians or dogs to be put in danger

Removing geese from your property may take one or several of our services. At Varment Guard, we continue to provide solutions until your wildlife problem is solved for good!

Humane Geese Removal And Relocation

If you live near lakes, ponds, rivers, or reservoirs, there’s a good chance you’ve experienced problems with Canada geese. Geese can leave a huge mess all over yards, sidewalks, and driveways. The mess and issues that geese cause can be frustrating and expensive. However, it is crucial to make goose removal and relocation as humane and safe as possible.

There is no single cookie cutter solution suitable for all nuisance goose problems. Our expert Varment Guard bird control specialists have perfected multiple techniques for effective goose control. These proven methods give us options to provide cost-effective wildlife solutions that are long-lasting.

Where does Varment Guard provide geese control services?

Varment Guard currently offers professional bird control services in the following areas:

If you are dealing with problematic geese in any of the locations listed above, then it’s time to get in touch with Varment Guard. We can rid you of any bird problems safely, efficiently, and humanely!

To request a free estimate or schedule a service, fill out our service request form or give us a call at 800-793-8169!