Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Wildlife Management Geese deterrant for pond

What is the best way to keep geese off my pond? I live in northern California and have a 4 acre pond. The geese are causing multiple problems in and around my pond.

Here is one method. Get a pair of swans

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F20SKPMppQU

Cody note: the methods seems to work. A couple places near me use the swans method.

I wonder if they would help with cormorants?

I haven't been up in a month, are those pesky cormorants still around DD1?





Pat

Actually, the pair of geese that have taken up residence here this spring chase both cormorants and GBH. They ignore all the different ducks. I have no idea if that is normal behavior. Do you think they actually recognize other birds that my prey on their young?

Edit: I dun mind TWO geese. They have given me a lot of entertainment watching them the last few weeks. The are mini ice breakers and and I crack up when they turn totally upside down with their legs flapping in the air when they bathe their backs.

They are actually "mooning" you!

We've been very fortunate. Most years, this one included, I have a pair or two that will visit our main pond in the early mornings for a short time every day. I've never seen them on my smaller pond.

Before I retired, I worked in an urban area that had some large run-off ponds. There was a large pond between our two buildings. We had to have our maintenance crew use snow shovels to keep our sidewalks and parking lots safe from their slippery donations. The parents could get quite mean when the babies started to stray into our parking lots and building entrances. It was kind of a game for some of my fellow workers to see how many they could run over on their way to or from a parking space.

When I have had what looked like a pair ready to take up residence for a new family, a shot or two from a .22 that hits the water several feet from them, kind of discourages them. Just blasting a 12 gauge shotgun into the air also discourages them.

The right dog can also help a lot.

Pat, most APPEAR to be gone and headed North. I'm not seeing the numbers that I saw last month.

I have a pair of geese myself. I believe they are they same pair as last year, and they're definitely earning their keep. Cormorants, other geese, and GBH are always attacked with a vengeance, so I'm OK if they stay a while. Of course I did have to raid a nest yesterday. 2 geese are enough.

They have figured out that our resident Mallard is always waiting on fish feeder throws, so now they're tagging along with him. All 3 birds are excellent at finishing off all the fish food that gets missed.