Geese in Meredith

[SAMIAM]

Really think it's time to take some drastic action about the goose situation in Meredith. This morning there were nearly 100 geese at the north end of Hesky Park and the poop was everywhere. Reached the point where it's a health and water quality issue.
Have no idea what anyone can do about it. Flags work but there is just too much waterfront to be effective.

[RailroadJoe]

Not to good a place to walk barefoot. Pretty bad condition.

[secondcurve]

Originally Posted by SAMIAM

Really think it's time to take some drastic action about the goose situation in Meredith. This morning there were nearly 100 geese at the north end of Hesky Park and the poop was everywhere. Reached the point where it's a health and water quality issue.
Have no idea what anyone can do about it. Flags work but there is just too much waterfront to be effective.

The town needs to get a special permit to exterminate a large quantity of the geese. The average flock probably needs to grow to 300-400 before common sense will prevail.

[jeffk]

400???


Alfred Hitchcock would be smiling.

[Onshore]

I really think someone should start a recipe book. Perhaps they could become a feature item on the menu of some of the local restaurants.

[nhcatrider]

Baked stuffed, broiled, braised, grilled... Where would you like me to start? lol

[meredith weekender]

Originally Posted by nhcatrider

Baked stuffed, broiled, braised, grilled... Where would you like me to start? lol

Reminds me of Forrest Gump, Fried Shrimp, Baked, Shrimp, Grilled Shrimp, BBQ Shrimp, Shrimp Gumbo, etc, etc, etc. LOL

[Onshore]

Originally Posted by nhcatrider

Baked stuffed, broiled, braised, grilled... Where would you like me to start? lol

Start with whichever one you can catch first.

[tis]

OH, Sam! That is just awful! What a mess that lawn must be. I know what 2 or 4 can do! Something does need to be done.

[nhcatrider]

Anyone have a very large and very hungry cat?

[Pine Island Guy]

SAM - I completely agree that it's time for something to be done, they are over-populating and their by-product is bad for the lake ecology and also a general nuisance...

Although I like Shore Things approach for innovative restaurant menu options... they look mighty bony...

Found the below solution on the internet, no idea if it is really effective, but by observation they do seem to eat a lot of grass (which apparently is where the term "like sh*t through a goose" came from!)

In areas where geese may considered a problem, the primary attraction is turf grass. Since geese are grazers, lawn areas are an inviting source of food for them. ReJex-iT (and other similar products that go by different trade names) is a non-toxic matieral that when applied to turf grass makes it inedible and repulsive to geese. The active ingredient is the same compound that gives concord grapes their characteristic flavor

Of course it doesn't actually bring down the goose population but might drive them to somewhere further away from the lake?

-PIG quack quack

[Onshore]

Or the town/owner could plant a buffer strip of low shrubs or bushes along the water line. If the geese can't see over it from the water they won't try to cross it.

[SAMIAM]

Hate to see any bird or animal hurt but it was disturbing to see the lawn and paved walkway covered with poop.Really not healthy for people and pets.
I have about 75' of beach leading up to the grass and the strings of flags work.Only need them up a week or two and they don't return.
Problem in meredith is the huge shore line.Don't think it would be practical.

[Sal]

I don't know about the efficacy of the loud "boom" of a small noise-producing
canon (or a cherry bomb, if you can find them) but I do know of the immensely
satisfying feeling of watching the offending bird/animal/miscreant skeddadle
at the sound.

[AC2717]

they probably come up on the grass directly and I bet they walk right up the boat ramp

[wifi]

Maybe some loud music played out the window would help !

On a serious note, what types of flags work, and where could one get them?

[SAMIAM]

Originally Posted by wifi

Maybe some loud music played out the window would help !

On a serious note, what types of flags work, and where could one get them?

Good idea......a dose of rap music should do the trick.

[upthesaukee]

No, not for paper training the geese.

Contact the Citizen and the Laconia Daily Sun and invite them out to do a story. Perhaps the town will act faster with the negative publicity out there.

[Happy Gourmand]

Originally Posted by SAMIAM

Good idea......a dose of rap music should do the trick.

Not sure about geese, but that would sure keep me away.

[TiltonBB]

Originally Posted by Pine Island Guy

Found the below solution on the internet, no idea if it is really effective, but by observation they do seem to eat a lot of grass (which apparently is where the term "like sh*t through a goose" came from!)

In areas where geese may considered a problem, the primary attraction is turf grass. Since geese are grazers, lawn areas are an inviting source of food for them. ReJex-iT (and other similar products that go by different trade names) is a non-toxic matieral that when applied to turf grass makes it inedible and repulsive to geese. The active ingredient is the same compound that gives concord grapes their characteristic flavor
-PIG quack quack

I don't remember the name but I bought a product at Agway a few years ago that was sprayed on the lawn. It lasted a while and did an excellent job of detering the geese. The bad news is that it smelled awful and made the property unusable. I even got complaints from the next door neighbor that when the wind was right (or wrong) the smell on his beach was terrible.

So, although it worked I would not use it again. We are getting tired of washing the poop away so maybe it is time to find some flags to put out. Hope that works!

[Chickie]

I didn't know where I might purchase "flags" as mentioned previously, so I improvised. Tied ropes to posts at an upper and lower level across the area where they come onto my lawn. Took an old sheet I had in my rag bag and tore it into rather wide strips. Tied the strips to the upper rope and let them hang down to about an inch or two from the ground. Not the prettiest sight to behold but they haven't come back since. Had been picking up poop since June - not an activity which added anything to my summer enjoyment. My lawn is now clear of land mines and I no longer have to watch my step.

[SAMIAM]

I bought my flags at that party store on court st in Laconia but homemade works just as well.
I just loop them over stakes so they can be easily removed when we use the beach.

[feb]

In lieu of flags, I've also used fishing line strung between the posts. Same results, no geese. And its a bit more invisible for us humans.

[4Fun]

I saw a raft this weekend with a motion sensor water sprayer. I looked it up and there are several out there that are battery powered or just conenct to a garden hose.

Not great for a public park but for a private area it would be great.

[SteveA]

The father of a former boyfriend my daughter had many years ago invented this:

http://www.wildgoosechasers.com/flig...-repellent.php

.. sold it to golf courses all over the Northeast and became a very wealthy man!

[ApS]

Originally Posted by SteveA

The father of a former boyfriend my daughter had many years ago invented this:

http://www.wildgoosechasers.com/flig...-repellent.php

.. sold it to golf courses all over the Northeast and became a very wealthy man!

Chasing geese isn't the answer.

What do golf courses and Hesky Park have in common?

Yup, expansive/expensive lawns.

My neighbors and I don't have geese problems, because we let mother nature keep up our yard appearance. There's no point in spending money to have a "perfect lawn", which draws geese; instead, spend $$$—once—for a yard of spreading Juniper or Yew.

[chipj29]

Originally Posted by 4Fun

I saw a raft this weekend with a motion sensor water sprayer. I looked it up and there are several out there that are battery powered or just conenct to a garden hose.

Not great for a public park but for a private area it would be great.

I bought one of those online a couple years ago to deter skunks in my yard. It worked awesome.

[tis]

Originally Posted by chipj29

I bought one of those online a couple years ago to deter skunks in my yard. It eworked awesome.

I had two of them and they didn't work.