Mike Windhorn, Regional Forestry and Natural Resources Agent & Molly Jones, Regional Water Resources Agent
Canada Geese are grazers that prefer well-maintained lawns next to a body of water. They are very wary of predators, so they prefer large open areas where they can easily see an approaching predator. They also use ponds for rest and relaxation, where they feel safe.
Canada Geese are not only destructive to ponds, but they can also compact soil and kill grass by overgrazing, make lawns unsightly with accumulations of droppings and feathers, and just be a nuisance due to their aggressive behavior and noise.
Water quality is significantly impacted by the nutrient outputs of Canada Goose populations utilizing ponds. A mature goose can produce up to 2-4 lbs. of manure daily. During breeding season, the population of geese can increase 10-17%.
Manure droppings contain an abundance of phosphorus, a limiting nutrient, that will increase algal bloom potential as well as aquatic weed growth. Increased levels of phosphorus can lead to eutrophication conditions, increasing primary productivity within the pond. Eutrophication can become harmful to the natural balance of a pond and result in fish kills due to depleted dissolved oxygen levels in the water. Droppings along the banks will be washed into the pond during rainfall events through runoff.
Goose manure contains heightened levels of E. coli bacteria. Fecal bacteria count in goose droppings are 25 times higher than in human waste. The introduction of goose manure into a water body may lead to significant bacterial levels, creating a human health hazard, inhibiting recreational use of the pond.
Many people have tried many different approaches to repel Canada Geese from their property. They have discovered that not one single approach is effective in the long term, but an integrated approach works best.
The first step in an integrated management plan is to recognize what Canada Geese are attracted to. They look for large, open, well-maintained lawns next to a pond. This situation provides food, water, and an opportunity to see and escape from an approaching predator.
Making modifications to this situation will make the area less goose friendly. Installing rock borders, hedges, or fencing along the water’s edge will make the water grazing on lawns less attractive. An even easier and more cost-effective alternative is to simply stop mowing within twenty feet of the water’s edge. Just allowing this natural riparian vegetative buffer to grow to a height of six inches or more will discourage the geese from leaving the water to graze.
Canada Geese prefer to graze on the young, tender shoots of lawn grasses. Mowing less often allows lawn grasses to mature and become less palatable to geese. Fertilizing less and irrigating less will also reduce the number of young tender shoots.
Canada Geese are very wary of predators and are always on the lookout. Predator decoys such as foxes, coyotes, snakes, and sasquatches are effective in repelling geese for short periods of time. Geese are highly intelligent creatures and will learn in just a few days that the decoy has not moved and poses no threat. So, the location of the decoy should be changed every three to four days.
Canada Geese are included in federal migratory bird protections, and it is illegal to touch, capture, or otherwise harm them without proper permits and/or outside of the federally regulated hunting seasons. It is permissible, however, to employ harassment techniques to make a pond or lawn less hospitable. These techniques include trained dogs and radio-controlled vehicles such as cars, boats, or planes. Loud noises such as fireworks, air horns, whistles, and blank guns are also effective in the short term. There are also chemical repellents that make the grass taste bad to geese. Most are nontoxic and based on human food additives but need to be applied at least once per week and after significant rainfall to remain effective.
Finally, hunting is an effective method for controlling Canada Goose populations. A state hunting license and a federal migratory bird stamp are required to participate in the various seasons. Please consult www.dnr.sc.gov for details.
For additional information, view Clemson HGIC fact sheets
https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/resident-canada-geese-along-the-waterfront
https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/resident-canada-geese-management-options
