Geese Everywhere!!!!!

[Sunset View]

Has anyone else noticed the explosion in geese population? The lake is now covered with these annoying birds who leave their droppings, ruin lawns and make many beautiful parts of the lake uninhabitable!

Ysterday I was at the water treatment plant at Paugus Bay and counted well over 100 birds! At Meredith Bay there must have been 75 grazing on the lwns and as you know, these birds become very territorial and aggressive so, no more sitting on the banks of Meredith and looking up the broads. Finally, in Center Harbor and Moultonboro, ducks are now replaced with geese..........100s of them!

Wondering if there are any plans to combat these pesky annoying animals or do we need to take matters into our own hands?

Looking for input.

Have a great and safe 4th everyone!

[ITD]

We've had problems with them, about 15 of them, they leave behind a huge amount of droppings each per day. We put up a barrier (short wire garden fence) to deter them from the lawn ( they don't fly this time of year due to molting and want an undeterred route to the water. They are aggressive if they think you are afraid of them. Stand your ground or advance on them and usually they will retreat. A stick or shovel in hand can be used to herd them, I wouldn't whack one though, they are pretty fragile and I'm sure it is against the law to hurt them. They can nip and know where to bite if you know what I mean so be careful, but once they know you are not afraid of them they will run. I think New Hampshire will be naming them the state bird pretty soon.

[Misty Blue]

We are now spending millions on milfoil removal on the Lake. This is good. Our next target must be the geese.

They will destroy a body of water and make it undrinkable, unswimable and property values will drop like geese dookie.

We have a lot of smart folks on this fourm. How about some ideas.

This problem must have been addressed in other places and, I hope, delt with.

I think that any ideas must be acted upon as soon as possible. Before they infest the entire Lake.

Misty Blue.

[Newbiesaukee]

The Geese have invaded Long Island and I have kept them at bay on my property with visual barriers such as strings of flags. After spending much time on google, my sad conclusion is that nothing works forever and because of regulations the problem is not easily solvable.

I really love wildlife ( even the "ugly" ones) but these geese are really evil

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/...ighlight=Geese ( try this link)

Even more:http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/...t=Canada+geese

[NoBozo]

This would probably work. It has a range of well over a mile...and in experienced hands up to 3 miles. The attractive thing is....it doesn't leave any evidence at the scene. NB

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barrett_M82

[Argie's Wife]

I've noticed they seem more prolific this year. They've taken over the Alton Bay Cemetery. I thought someone had been walking their dog there on a regular basis there was so much poo. They're always at the Letter S Rd/Route 140 intersection, too. Nasty critters - pretty to look at but man, do they wreck an area quickly.

[jeffatsquam]

Originally Posted by Argie's Wife

I've noticed they seem more prolific this year. They've taken over the Alton Bay Cemetery. I thought someone had been walking their dog there on a regular basis there was so much poo. They're always at the Letter S Rd/Route 140 intersection, too. Nasty critters - pretty to look at but man, do they wreck an area quickly.

Thanks for comming back your insite was missed

[Argie's Wife]

Originally Posted by jeffatsquam

Thanks for comming back your insite was missed

Awwww.... thank you. That's very sweet. The Arglets have kept me busy with baseball and t-ball this year, and then there's scouts, school stuff, work, projects, and.... I still lurked but haven't had much to post on.

----

About some of the alternative means of keeping geese away - we had a bad infestation of them at the high school here in Alton a couple of years ago. They loved the area because it was clear, some water, lots of grass, etc. You get the idea. The school tried several things - a plastic wolf decoy (it promptly went MIA), bringing dogs to the area to chase the things, and finally someone suggested bringing in a pyrotechnic company that would discharge a loud air cannon-like device (BOOM!) to scare the pests off. That last tactic seemed to work best. So yes, noise is the key to getting rid of them - they don't like it.

Hopefully, when you do scare them off they'll tell all their goose-friends and you'll be rid of varmints.

[dpg]

I second Roman Candles and you can keep your distance when lighting them. If your there enough and can stay on them steady for awhile they will stop making your area a regular stop.

[tis]

Well, so much for the coyote decoy. They were sitting about 8 feet from it just a few minutes ago. My dog and I chased them off and then I shot at them with the slingshot. I am a terrible shot. But it scares them away for a while.

[Jeanzb1]

My sister-in-law had a TERRIBLE problem up until about three weeks ago with Canadian geese. We went to Agway in Gilford and asked what, if anything, they sold to deter them. We were told of a product -- and for the life of me I cannot remember the two-word name of it -- that is sprayed on mixed with water from a hose and it immediately changes the taste of the grass so that the geese will go elsewhere. It is 100 percent guaranteed. It was expensive, $48, but it sure did work. There are NO droppings now at all. And the stuff is non-toxic.

[tis]

Originally Posted by Jeanzb1

My sister-in-law had a TERRIBLE problem up until about three weeks ago with Canadian geese. We went to Agway in Gilford and asked what, if anything, they sold to deter them. We were told of a product -- and for the life of me I cannot remember the two-word name of it -- that is sprayed on mixed with water from a hose and it immediately changes the taste of the grass so that the geese will go elsewhere. It is 100 percent guaranteed. It was expensive, $48, but it sure did work. There are NO droppings now at all. And the stuff is non-toxic.

Does this one have some kind of grape which is very sour and tannic acid? And you have to spray it every 7 or so days?

[Jeanzb1]

Yes, it does have Concord Grapes in it. I went to www.liquidfence.com and then found it. It is called "Goose Repellent." And it really and truly works quickly. We bought it at Agway in Gilford, but you can order it online, also

[Jonas Pilot]

COMMERCIAL GOOSE REPELLENTS
Canada geese are grazers, preferring short-grass areas adjacent to water sources in which to forage, such as lawns, golf courses, cemeteries and athletic fields. Large numbers of geese foraging in these urban/suburban settings can be a nuisance due to the amount of fecal matter they leave behind (approximately 1⁄2#/goose/day), and the amount of damage they can inflict on turf grass areas through over-grazing. Geese can also decimate crops, such as alfalfa, winter wheat, oats, buckwheat, soybeans and even corn, when the cobs are within 38” of the ground. Damage to crops occurs via foraging and trampling. In regions where open water and a reliable food source are available year-round, geese have formed resident populations which no longer migrate. These populations continue to increase in size as their offspring also become resident geese.
Repellents can be effective in controlling the number of geese frequenting an area, but can be costly, due to the large quantities needed to be effective, and the need to reapply after periods of precipitation. Frequent reapplication in turf-grass areas is also necessary to ensure adequate coverage during the growing season, especially after mowing. Therefore, other methods of damage prevention are preferable over the use of repellents, whenever feasible. Damage control methods, such as hazing, can be used in conjunction with repellents for greater success. Additional methods include temporary, emergency measures such as the placement of electric or barrier fencing between the foraging area and water source. More permanent solutions include the planting of wetland buffers, and population management as a result of hunting pressure. Strategic placement of crop fields can also be a factor in reducing damage by Canada geese. Crops that are susceptible to grazing should not be placed adjacent to ponds and lakes in areas where Canada geese pose a problem. Rather, these areas may be more suitable to the establishment of hayfields and pasture areas, which are more resilient to the effects of trampling and grazing, and could act as a lure to prevent geese from traveling to the more susceptible crop fields.
Refer to Table 5 for a listing of commercial goose repellent products and the manufacturer/source information. Table 6 lists pricing and coverage information for each repellentoutlinedinTable5. ContactinformationforsourcesisincludedinAppendixIo fthis handbook.
Three of the four repellent products listed in Table 5 contain methyl anthranilate as the active ingredient. Methyl anthranilate is a human and livestock food flavoring that is derived from concord grapes. It is safe to use and environmentally friendly, but in studies undertaken by USDA’s National Wildlife Research Center, the repellent has had very limited success in controlling the grazing of geese on turf grasses. The chemical was effective when first applied, but its effectiveness dramatically decreased four days after application, rendering the repellent impractical due to cost and labor constraints. The reader is invited to pursue additional information concerning this study by clicking on the following link : http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife_d...pubs/96-14.pdf. More information concerning avian repellents is provided in the following USDA National Wildlife Research Center publication http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife_d...bs/aver027.pdf.


http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/assista...t_handbook.pdf

[chipj29]

I have one of the motion-sensor sprinklers and it works really well to keep small animals away.

[NoBozo]

Originally Posted by chipj29

I have one of the motion-sensor sprinklers and it works really well to keep small animals away.

THIS.. Sounds like an Idea.

Something else I just thought of. Low Voltage Electric Fences have been around since at least the 40s...to keep cattle inside boundries. A SINGLE bare wire...driven by something that looks like a battery charger.....drop the wire to 12 inches above ground. I would guess this solution would not be expensive at all. Just string the wire across the path of travel of the Geese.....you can move it around to suit the local conditions. NB

[Fargo]

I bought 4ft vinyl snow fence at Lowes and cut it down to 18". We now have 300ft of fencing on the beach and out around the dock. Seems to be working, nothing else did.

[tis]

I, too, am fighting geese. My flags have stopped working because they have figured out if one goes down or up a little, they find that spot and go over or under them. We are now trying pebbles with a sling shot. Much as I hate them, I don't want to hurt them, so the pebbles seem to scare them away-till the next time. The trouble is you have to be home every single minute to watch for them. I got one of those plastic coyotes and I think that is helping, but we have a lot of shorefront so they went to the other side where the coyote isn't and where they found a low spot in the flags. We have also sent the remote control boat out after them. The trouble is, all this scares them away but they come back. I also got an owl that hoots and turns it head on motion, but it doesn't work- it hoots and turns it's head all the time. At that rate the batteries won't last long. I hope to get a new one that works. I tried an air horn a couple of times too. We only have two adults and four babies but you would think we had thousands the amount of mess that comes from them. I hope someone can come up with a surefire solution. I can see what 6 will do, I can't imagine more. If they would just go away!!!!

[ITD]

Originally Posted by tis

I, too, am fighting geese. My flags have stopped working because they have figured out if one goes down or up a little, they find that spot and go over or under them. We are now trying pebbles with a sling shot. Much as I hate them, I don't want to hurt them, so the pebbles seem to scare them away-till the next time. The trouble is you have to be home every single minute to watch for them. I got one of those plastic coyotes and I think that is helping, but we have a lot of shorefront so they went to the other side where the coyote isn't and where they found a low spot in the flags. We have also sent the remote control boat out after them. The trouble is, all this scares them away but they come back. I also got an owl that hoots and turns it head on motion, but it doesn't work- it hoots and turns it's head all the time. At that rate the batteries won't last long. I hope to get a new one that works. I tried an air horn a couple of times too. We only have two adults and four babies but you would think we had thousands the amount of mess that comes from them. I hope someone can come up with a surefire solution. I can see what 6 will do, I can't imagine more. If they would just go away!!!!

Roman candles work well, kind of fun too.

[SAMIAM]

Roman candles do work great.....I used to use the ones without a report so my neighbors wouldn't freak,but nothing has worked better than the strings of flags from the party store.As long as they are up,I haven't had a single goose.Plus they are easy to remove when you want to use the beach

[tis]

Originally Posted by SAMIAM

Roman candles do work great.....I used to use the ones without a report so my neighbors wouldn't freak,but nothing has worked better than the strings of flags from the party store.As long as they are up,I haven't had a single goose.Plus they are easy to remove when you want to use the beach

You were the one that gave me the flag idea. They worked great for a couple of years, but this year they learned to go over or under them.

[SAMIAM]

Originally Posted by tis

You were the one that gave me the flag idea. They worked great for a couple of years, but this year they learned to go over or under them.

Just noticed your post tis....the best way to string them is just drive 3 or 4 posts into the ground (or beach) and string them tightly so they don't droop.The tips of the flags should be carely touching the ground so they can't go under them.
Last two years it worked great......they got discouraged and stopped coming.
This year I'm trying the motion detector sprinkler......so far it's working.Also keeps my cats from thinking the beach is their private cat box.

[tis]

Originally Posted by SAMIAM

Just noticed your post tis....the best way to string them is just drive 3 or 4 posts into the ground (or beach) and string them tightly so they don't droop.The tips of the flags should be carely touching the ground so they can't go under them.
Last two years it worked great......they got discouraged and stopped coming.
This year I'm trying the motion detector sprinkler......so far it's working.Also keeps my cats from thinking the beach is their private cat box.

That's what I did and for a few weeks this year, it worked. Then they got very persistent and if one drooped and I didn't notice or was high close to the post, they found it and got through. I was always adjusting them. It was almost a full time job with the length of the property. If it was just a 100' frontage lot, it would be a lot easier.

Anyway, I haven't had any for 10 days. Is it the swans or have they gone away for the season?

[NoBozo]

[QUOTE=tis;185329]We have also sent the remote control boat out after them. The trouble is, all this scares them away but they come back. QUOTE]

You could also use a remote control TIGER Tank. They are excellent vehicles and fun to drive around your property. BUT... you need to have firepower added. Find a model builder who would build one for you. Maybe a 22 Cal. tank mounted gun. This would likely cost well over $1000. BUT: IT Would be FUN. NB

[tis]

[QUOTE=NoBozo;185349]

Originally Posted by tis

We have also sent the remote control boat out after them. The trouble is, all this scares them away but they come back. QUOTE]

You could also use a remote control TIGER Tank. They are excellent vehicles and fun to drive around your property. BUT... you need to have firepower added. Find a model builder who would build one for you. Maybe a 22 Cal. tank mounted gun. This would likely cost well over $1000. BUT: IT Would be FUN. NB

That WOULD be fun. But it would have to float.

[NoBozo]

I think there are Amphibious Tanks....just not TIGERS. NB

BTW: The German Tiger Tank was the Second most powerful tank during WWII. There were variations. The Russian T-34 was THE most powerfull tank in the world at the time. The American "Sherman" was a ...lightweight... comparitively...

BUT none of this has anything to do with shooting geese (in a humane way) in the Lakes Region.

[barefootbay]

The problem started when folks started feeding them and they found out that the really didn't need to migrate any more so the just winter here and there is lots of open water in the winter now , so they just stay here and breed.
Wolfeboro had this problem some years ago with ducks. Folks were feeding them year round on a large scale and the down town dockside area was covered with hundreds of ducks and lots of poop.

A town ordinance was passed against feeding the ducks and in a few years their numbers greatly diminished.

[Jonas Pilot]

Habitat modification creates long-lasting results

The most lasting way to avoid Canada geese problems (and often the most cost-effective in the long run) is to change the habitat so it doesn't appeal to them. You can do this by taking away their preferred foods and creating a landscape where the birds don't feel safe.

Habitat changes will work better if geese can go to a "tolerance zone" that meets their needs. Leave geese tolerance zones and the geese in them alone. Then geese will vacate zero-tolerance zones more readily.
The buffet is closed

Like most of us, if Canada geese find their favorite food spread out in easy reach, they will eat it. But you can close the free buffet!

Reduce the total amount of lawn.
Where you keep lawn, reduce the young grass shoots geese like the most. Let grass grow taller—at least 6 inches and leave taller grass over winter. Stop or limit watering and fertilizing in the spring.
Replace Kentucky bluegrass (a.k.a. "goose candy") with other grasses such as tall fescue. This works where geese can eat somewhere else. They will eat fescue and almost any short grass or legume if that's all there is.
To reduce food for a short period, treat grass with chemical repellents. Anthraquinone triggers a strong, harmless digestive irritation and teaches geese to avoid treated areas. Methyl anthranilate is a grape flavoring in our food. To geese, it just tastes really bad. Repellents must be reapplied after heavy rains or when growing grass is mowed, so plan their use when it can be most effective.
Do not feed geese! Human food is not healthy for them and geese will gather where they are fed.

Don't give them shelter

Geese feel safe from predators where there are open sight lines, so they can see predators coming, and where they can easily escape onto open water.

Use dense tall plantings along shorelines to make a barrier between the food and the water.
Add variety to landscaping with clumps of taller plantings where predators could hide.
Locate ball fields and other grassy expanses as far from open water as possible.
Maintain or establish stands of trees between water and grass so geese can't fly through.



The Humane Society of the United States

[secondcurve]

I've written about it before.......a young kid has a pellet gun in my neck of the woods and the old timers pay him and his buddies $5.00 a bird......Evidently, he shoots them in the head and that stops them quickly and it is humane. The old timers use them for fertilizer.

[Jonas Pilot]

Originally Posted by secondcurve

I've written about it before.......a young kid has a pellet gun in my neck of the woods and the old timers pay him and his buddies $5.00 a bird......Evidently, he shoots them in the head and that stops them quickly and it is humane. The old timers use them for fertilizer.

Maybe we should just run 'em over with our boats?

[secondcurve]

Originally Posted by Jonas Pilot

Maybe we should just run 'em over with our boats?

That would work, too. Just watch the speed limit!

[ishoot308]

Fish and Game needs to step in here and extend the hunting season as well as daily bag limits to get their numbers in control. Educating the general public about proper barrier techniques and especially why it is so important to never feed them!! Killing them out of seasonal dates as people deem necessary is not the solution. Certain times of year are selected for harvesting for good reason, the harvest numbers just need to increase.

Dan

[At Your Service NH]

We recommend these to our customers and have had pretty good results

Contech scarecrow motion activated sprinkler cro102

you can get them on EBAY for around $50.00

[SAMIAM]

Thanks for the tip.....ordered one from Amazon

[John A. Birdsall]

Send them to susiville, they have loud music and they could use the geese for supper. How do you cook a goose?

[Newbiesaukee]

I'll ask my wife...she always tells me mine is cooked.