Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Simple goose observations

So thought I would share how I am keeping geese out of my 1/2 acre pond. So far I have had a lot of success compared to neighboring ponds.

As soon as I see the first pair show up, I chase them off. Whatever it takes. I now have my dog trained to join in the "fun", and she knows to go to the opposite side of the pond from me so the geese get pressured both ways. I toss small stones near them to keep them on the move until they leave. The pond isn't big enough for them to get far enough away from short to feel safe. We have to do this almost daily in the spring when they are trying to find good nesting spots.

If that doesn't work, I have some pretty hefty bottle rockets as a last resort. They don't appreciate fireworks like I do.

My guess is that if there is a pair sitting comfortably for a little while, the geese flying over see this as a safe spot and join in. Let it go too far, and the geese will win and it will be far harder to get them out. Otherwise if nobody is there, they assume a predator must be near and look for the next safe spot. The first two geese to try to get established are the easiest to remove as they are nervous about being alone. Keep the pond goose free, and it almost maintains itself.

Don't fertilize the grass anywhere near the pond. I swear they can detect plant health from a distance, after all it is a survival thing. My grass is hovering the line between death and life, so not good eating and not all that attractive.

Don't mow everything near your pond, leave as much as you can tall enough they cannot walk through it. That becomes no-goose land and great support for the ecosystem. Right up to the water's edge if possible. You can always mow paths, or brush hog once in a while to keep the woody stuff down.

Lastly, hope your neighbor doesn't mind a few geese and has a larger pond with fertilized grass. The geese take one look at my puddle with weak grass, and a nearby 3-acre pond nicely manicured and choose the "safer" version.

I would rather have a poo-free swimable pond than a green carpet any day.

Thanks for listening!

Sounds like very good advice Liquid AND there is nothing unnatural about your approach, no flashing lights, strings, balloons, wolf decoys, etc. I have a friend who lived on a HOA pond who HATED the geese and his final advice would be..."dedication to running around the pond like a fool chicken with his head cut off to become more of a nuisance to the geese than they could stand". I don't know if he really won the battle, but he never gave up!

It seems I have crossed the threshold. No more random geese have showed up for a week now, and the other ponds nearby are stuffed full of chicks. Until a mama decides to wander over with her chicks, I am in the clear.

And yes, I am the damned fool running around the pond waving and yelling while to dog laughs at me and joins the fun! Neighbors probably think I am demented.

Once we get a few more warm days, in goes the swim dock! New ladder on its way.

Based on my experience, I'd recommend discontinuing any fish feeding while geese are on the lake. Tough to do at a remote site, however.

I have not seen the curse of the goose yet. I did have 200 woodies on my pond for a few days last year. They gave me years worth of poop in a few days..
I think my trees are just too close to the water, they either don�t like them being close from a preditor prey perspective, or they need more room for landings and take offs.. Hoping they never find it attractive. I won�t fertilize the grass now either. Thanks for the tip.
Jeff

I have woodies that roost in my flooded timber and it don�t matter to them how thick it is they can and do get in and out easily. Amazing to watch them come in right at dark. Several times in winter I have seen hundreds fly in to roost. Have not seen any Ill effects

Pat I think SetterGuy meant that the thick trees being too close to the water is the reason why the Geese don't come to his pond. The woodies do come and you are right, they seem to love the thick woods.

I�ve got a box up for woodies, they are welcome. (Maybe not 200 for a long stay)
Sorry for the confusion. Not sure why I don�t have geese, but I�m glad don�t have them.

Small ponds the geese are not a big problem. We have a pair that drop in for the night but leave every morning. I let them and don't chase them off.

If they did try to build a nesting site then that is a different story.