Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Dog gone Geese?

Haven't seen my regular two pairs of Canada Geese this year. At first I thought maybe the geese hadn't migrated down here yet, but yesterday saw plenty around other local ponds.

So what gives? Could it be several neighborhood dogs are keeping them away? We saw dogs not only on the shoreline but also swimming across to the geese's favorite hangout, our little island. Would this be enough to discourage geese?

Last year one pair never laid eggs, as far as we could tell. The other pair laid eggs but we didn't see any young, so something went wrong. Could it be that the geese have decided our place isn't safe for breeding? If so, I'm gonna start feeding those dogs just to keep them around.

The last 2 years I've had a pair TRY to take up residency and I've managed to discourage them with yelling, rocks and my full auto BB Gun. Hopefully when we move there are dog will help discourage them. In just a day or two they leave enough droppings that you have to really watch where you step.

Bob, I have to be careful about how I deal with the geese because my wife loves having them around. So pretty & their antics are so fun! Me, I hate seeing poo all over the dock and watching them eat expensive fish food. The only redeeming quality is that they don't eat fish, so preferable to cormorants.

Won't they eat the vegetation as well? I know my Aunt had a few geese and ducks at her pond and there was nothing but dirt and poo around it. It makes it look really bad.

They do eat vegetation, both aquatic and land, but I had so few geese that it didn't much matter. Beavers are far more voracious, especially love cattails.

If you have a FA problem you can also blame the geese. A single goose can poop enough in a day to grow 115# of FA.................

I didn't have a FA problem in 2020, but likely that was due to tilapia. In fact, right after the recent cold snap I saw some scattered FA for the first time since early spring, probably because the tilapia had gone to fish heaven. Surprised me a bit, since I'd always thought FA didn't do well in colder temps. Not tons, but definitely there in shallow water. Tiny YOY fish seemed to hang around it, especially near rocks.

I've had FA growing under the ice.......

I think the Tp help to control the green slimy FA but i think there is a downside to having Tp. And that is as they slow down and die off in December they bring in alot of birds and animals to feed on them. I know the Osprey show up along with the Bald Eagle and the Otters. I also understand the Tp will feed the lmb during this time. And then the otters, birds feed on the lmb. It is a Mother Nature thing.

I will gladly share some of my geese if you want to come catch them.

Please don't tell my wife. She'd be delighted to take you up on this offer!