Canadian Geese

[mountain man]

We just finished a landscape/turf installation job around a new pool. Now some Canadian Geese have moved in and keep coming back. The home owner now is running them off by chasing them but they come back. You can't kill them since we are in the city limits and would face huge fines if we tried. This is a good customer and I don't want to have to hassle with replacing turf and new plants that are damaged. Hopefully, someone has some ideas. <p>On a side note, I have scared off woodpeckers in the past by putting out a rubber snake, but this does not work for geese.

[geogunn]

geese are a problem, better watch your step!<p>have you tried an owl? stick it where it's visible and move it frequently. unfortunately, there is always a chance that the owl might draw crows.<p>otherwise, sounds like you need to use a stock dog such as a border collie. they'll go straight for the geese and problem solved. unless, of course, the dog creates a problem. good luck.<p>GEO

[GroundKprs]

Hello MtMan. First a little suggestion: if you could indicate your location in your message, profile or signature, you will get more regional specific answers. This forum is only few months old and has members from US Canada & Australia already. <p>Two recent innovations I am aware of:<p>http://www.bird-x.com/products/sbxpel.html<br>http://www.flightcontrol.com/<p>The Bird-X unit is $500. It's a programmeable sonic alert, basically a recording of species distress calls. You select the species and the frequency of action. Flight Control is labor intensive; it is a repellant applied to turf areas, must be repeated. I haven't used either or seen any university test results on either. <p>Best wildlife manual I've found, from Univ of Nebraska, doesn't even try on geese. Suggest you check with your state extension offices before trying either or any other means.<p>CAN'T KILL GEESE anywhere in US except during hunting season. They are a federal protected species, and the same in most states. Also there are special rules for ducks: can try to chase off ducks by destroying nest until eggs are laid. A duck nest with eggs has state & federal protection. (But not from the racoons)<p>----------<br>Jim<br>North central Indiana<br>

[cutntrim]

Hey now,<p>Don't be shootin' our national bird now. Geese are a big, messy problem in our municipal parks up here. They're a protected bird with no real natural predators to speak of within cities and towns. Now and again a town will round up a few hundred of them and relocate them. <p>Tell your customer to get a dog. &quot;Geogunn&quot; is right, border collies love to chase geese.<p>----------<br>Dave in S.Ontario<br>

[GroundKprs]

Correction: Bird-X unit is a recording of predator sounds, and just came across old ad for a smaller unit for $230. (Less range)<p>You could also check with golf courses around you. They have to keep them away.<p>Maybe we could start a national drive to return them all to cutntrim? :)<p>----------<br>Jim<br>North central Indiana

[AB Lawn Care]

I too live in Ontario and know these dirty birds.In our city we have alot of them but they mainly stay by the river going through our city.I have a couple of products that might help you out.One product is called the bird banger.It is basicaly a air pistol that fires out a cap of some sort that either makes a bang or a screaming sound.Weither this would be legal in town I don't know.An other is a product called Garlic Barrier.You add it to water and spray it over the lawn and garden.They say that the product does not harm any plants or lawn.There are a couple more products in this catalogue I have.Call 1-800-874-4755.This is not a catalogue order line(I could not find one)but if you call this line you can ask about the products they sell.I'm sure when you call this line that you can get the number to order the catalogue.<p>I hope this helps!<p>from:Adam<br>AB Lawn Care<br>

[jrblawncare]

Something you can try now and may work...tie a few feet of string to a stick with an aluminum pie plate on the end of it,place a few of them around the site.

[lawrence stone]

Try a cheap Daisy bb gun. Silent and you<br>won't kill them unless you go for head shots.

[Barkleymut]

I was going to go with the BB gun suggestion but I see Stone already beat me to it. I would go to Lesco or another chemical supplier, they should have something which makes the geese uncomfortable or maybe a scent that repels them. I also like the dog idea. My dog sure would like to chase geese all day. And when she caught one and some government person showed up on your doorstep then you could just say &quot;dogs will be dogs&quot;.

[JJ Lawn]

Larry, your suggestion of shooting Geese with a BB gun, even if you don't kill them is right up there with applying herbicide and insecticide without a licence. <p>Canadian geese are migratory birds that are protected by federal and state laws, and any harm done to them can and will probably result in heavy fines or jail time, or both.<p>There was a nationally publicized incident a few years ago about a golfer that killed one with a golf club. He got into a lot of trouble.<p>I would suggest that you put your BB gun back in the closet before some bird watcher drops a dime on you.<br> <br>Also would suggest that you go back to your own forum if you want to spread misinformation.<p> <br>jim <p>

[Ron]

jim, you seem to have a vendetta going here. Larry's post was humorous. Lighten up! In case you haven't noticed, there is a lot of entertainment to be had in many of the posts.

[lawrence stone]

Hey JJ,<p>Where I live we consider canada goose large<br>flying rats. Maybe you sould get your facts<br>straight b/4 you look like a fool again.<p>The following is copied from:<br>http://www.state.pa.us/PA_Exec/PGC/newsroom/2000news/nr04-00.htm<p>LATE CANADA, SNOW GOOSE SEASONS CONTINUE<p>Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Vern Ross today reminded waterfowl hunters that throughout much of Pennsylvania they may continue to enjoy opportunities to harvest Canada and snow geese during late winter seasons.<p>&quot;The late Canada goose season remains open through Feb. 15, in much of the state with exceptions being closures in a large portion of southeastern Pennsylvania and areas in the northwest,&quot; Ross said. He noted that full details are provided in the Pennsylvania 1999-2000 Guide to Migratory Game Bird Hunting brochure available at<p>all Game Commission offices, most Post Offices and license agents. The complete guide may also be found on the Game Commission’s home page at: www.pgc.state.pa.us.<p>The late Canada goose season has a daily limit of five birds with a possession limit of 10.<br>

[bdemir]

why not a fake dog or a scare crow?

[cantoo]

I just finished the hunting course here in Ontario, you can't shoot geese with a bb gun or a pellet gun. Shotgun only, no single projectile. <br> Go to yard sales and buy a couple of stuffed life sized dogs,set them around the yard, the geese will leave. That's what we do around our fish pond in the off season.

[JJ Lawn]

Larry,<p>How did I look foolish? I didn't, everything I typed was true. The discussion was not about hunting them, the discussion was about scaring them off. You were talking about shooting them with a BB gun which is not a legal weapon to shoot geese with. Which you would have know if you had continued reading the hunting reg in you state. And in some states, mine for instance, there is no hunting season for Canadian Geese.<p>And Ron, if you think that post was funny you might go back and read some of his other hillarious posts. No vendetta, just good clean light hearted jabs.<p><br>News flash....took me a while to find this one.<p>Very big GRIN. :)<p>Larry heres the big one taken right out of your state hunting regulations<p>§ 141.3. Protection removed under certain circumstances.<br> (a) General. <p> (1) Protection is removed from wildlife, except migratory birds, big game and threatened or endangered species, when personal property, other than an agricultural crop, is being destroyed or damaged. <p>I rest my case, and accept your apology.<p>jim<br> <p><br>

[lawrence stone]

During my life to date I have committed<br>hundreds of summary offences, a couple dozen<br>misdemeanors, and a handful of felonies without ever being arrested or convicted.<p>Do you think the police powers in my area have time to investigate petty crimes when<br>there are drug dealers selling crack openly<br>on the street corner.<p>I think it's time you left that podunk area<br>you live in and find out what the real world<br>is like.

[Finecut]

Lawrence,<p>Could this possibly be the reason you drive 60 miles to find work? Are you trying to out run your reputation? How many alias will you need? Just food for thought!

[fireball]

Canada is for geese. Send them back there. all you southern boys go out next week and chase them off and we'll get them all back in Canada by June. We just have to get immigration and naturalization people from admiting each year.

[mountain man]

Only two geese left. One got hit by a truck this afternoon. Dude must have been going eighty by the looks of it.<p>I appreciate everyone's suggestions. Hopefully we can get the other two to migrate on.

[geogunn]

mr. stone--you may be correct about the police in your area not being concerned about trivial infractions of the law. that's fairly common. however, whether you are aware or not, your state has a game and wildlife agency that is dedicated to enforcement of the laws that protect game and nongame animals. we call them wildlife officers in my state and their job is to arrest and prosecute poachers. poaching includes the taking of wildlife by illegal means.<p>further, a migratory species such as geese are protected by federal laws that are enforced by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. violations of federal game laws may be prosecuted in federal court as a felony.<p>I agree with the comment that your posts here were probably flippant in nature but your scoff at game protection laws is cavalier.<p>GEO