Canada Geese and Goslings

Belmont Resident · 06-04-2013, 04:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tis

I'm with ya' TOW. I hate them and I don't hate many animals, especially baby animals. They are going right over my flags and rope now. The motion detector sprinklers aren't working, the coyote or whatever that animal is, isn't working, the air horn isn't working, and the dogs chasing them isn't working. I think garden fencing is next. They can't get through that, though they might fly over it.

Someone once told me a paintball gun worked.

I'm with you they serve no useful purpose that I know of other than crapping all over anything they walk over. Docks, boats, beached, lawns.
Cute little chicks though.

tis · 06-04-2013, 06:36 AM

I heard paintballs work too and firecrackers, but those are out of my league. I do chase them until they are out in the water but once they are in the water, they seem to know they are safe and move very slowly, maybe even going over to my neighbors or another place in my yard. One day I took the kayak and chased them way out in the lake. They weren't too happy that day, but quickly forgot that too.

If anybody wants to come over and help goose chase, you would be more than welcome.

Oh, I even got a slingshot (not to hit them but to scare them) and that does make them move. But I can't stand there all day and do that. Sunday, I put the rock in backward or something and shot myself. I have a big black an blue just below my shoulder.

Pineedles · 06-04-2013, 07:26 AM

My solution is to not have grass growing at the waterfront. Just natural pine needles on the ground. No mowing, fertilizing, weeding, and no poop!

AC2717 · 06-04-2013, 07:59 AM

They love our beach
the trick i found, after lots of research and going mad last year, is to use twine about 15 inches right at the water line on the beach. And sporatically place caution type streamers on the twine to move with the wind, but also so someone does not trip over in darkness. On the grassy parts that meet the water, place it a couple inches short of where the grass meets the water. It confuses them on the grass because they do not have enough room to hop up onto it, and on the beach they do not know how to navigate under it or above it, and by it being on the water line they cannot rest there beuase they are in the water so they take off

tried and true method for me after only two weeks last year at the cost of just a roll of twine, sticks from the property, and a roll of $1.99 caution ribbon.

another method that works is the ballon method, but with the heat will be replacing them every day. you tie the ballons to a stick with at least a foto lead to it, can be as long as you want. Throw them all over and when they move they become affraid of them because they do not know what to think, (make them all different sizes) and move them around - this worked for a friend onf mine, i started doing it but got sick of blowing up ballons every day

Rattlesnake Gal · 06-04-2013, 09:20 AM

Most towns have regulations about feeding the ducks. Wouldn't feeding these pesky geese be illegal too?

tis · 06-04-2013, 11:44 AM

The twine and the flags have really worked the best for me so far, too, AC. The problem is, as the water level goes up and down and as the posts pull out from the waves or whatever happens, they are not at the right height and I find myself adjusting them all the time. That's why I think the fence might work.

RG, I think there should be an ordiance against them even being in the lake. When you see how much they leave, you would not want to swim where they have been. I really think something is going to have to be done. Right now we don't have a lot, but last year someone posted a picture of about 25 of them -I think in Ctr. Harbor- and a few days ago I saw a flock fly over here. Two with their babies is bad enough!!!!

SIKSUKR · 06-04-2013, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rattlesnake Gal

Most towns have regulations about feeding the ducks. Wouldn't feeding these pesky geese be illegal too?

That would be nice but we could start by not feeding the TROLL.

PaugusBayFireFighter · 06-04-2013, 12:33 PM

My 3 cats have been having a blast with the geese. We have a few groups with goslings that are coming to my cove. A wrist rocket with a marble works great too. They come on my grass, they get marbleized!

ITD · 06-04-2013, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaugusBayFireFighter

My 3 cats have been having a blast with the geese. We have a few groups with goslings that are coming to my cove. A wrist rocket with a marble works great too. They come on my grass, they get marbleized!

I've always worried that would kill them, does this do any permanent damage?
I'm thinking that there should be open season on them year round.

PaugusBayFireFighter · 06-04-2013, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ITD

I've always worried that would kill them, does this do any permanent damage?
I'm thinking that there should be open season on them year round.

No damage I can see other than a sore rear end. I don't shoot them up close and most marbles bounce off their full feathered back side. Most of the time I just run up on them and they flee...but once in a while they need an attention getter.

Happy Gourmand · 06-04-2013, 03:47 PM

How about those floats that look like an alligator. They have one at Akwa Marina and I've seen them around a couple places. They claim they work with all migrating birds.

tis · 06-04-2013, 06:17 PM

I haven't tried that Phantom!

fatlazyless · 06-05-2013, 06:38 AM

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

Over on nearby Horse Island, a canada goose couple recently tended their nest for about a month until one day they slowly paddled away with seven yellow baby geese between them.

tis · 06-05-2013, 06:44 AM

Last night, five adults FLEW in. My dog and I chased them away. This morning the two were back with the babies and we chased them away again. They didn't go far, just to my next door neighbors. So I know they will be back to visit.

fatlazyless · 06-05-2013, 08:00 AM

Number nine; first digit on an unreadable number stamped into an aluminum band on its leg; would identify it as the goose that used to be at Horse Island, not that it makes any difference? I have a couple photos except all canada geese look alike and it is basically impossible to identify one from another....say hey....www.cheezit.com are not just for ducks, and make good food for humans, too, especially with a quality beer like Pabst Blue Ribbon!

PaugusBayFireFighter · 06-05-2013, 08:48 AM

I notice the geese settle after dark when it's quiet and most people are indoors. The other day I set my irrigation sprinklers to turn on at 1am and 5am. This seems to be sending the geese to yards without this annoyance to them (sorry Rob). They are creatures of habit and will settle where they get the most privacy. Between the cats and the sprinklers I think I have them on the run!

06-04-2013, 07:59 AM	#4
AC2717 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Maynard, MA & Paugus Bay Posts: 2,577 Thanks: 755 Thanked 355 Times in 267 Posts	They love our beach the trick i found, after lots of research and going mad last year, is to use twine about 15 inches right at the water line on the beach. And sporatically place caution type streamers on the twine to move with the wind, but also so someone does not trip over in darkness. On the grassy parts that meet the water, place it a couple inches short of where the grass meets the water. It confuses them on the grass because they do not have enough room to hop up onto it, and on the beach they do not know how to navigate under it or above it, and by it being on the water line they cannot rest there beuase they are in the water so they take off tried and true method for me after only two weeks last year at the cost of just a roll of twine, sticks from the property, and a roll of $1.99 caution ribbon. another method that works is the ballon method, but with the heat will be replacing them every day. you tie the ballons to a stick with at least a foto lead to it, can be as long as you want. Throw them all over and when they move they become affraid of them because they do not know what to think, (make them all different sizes) and move them around - this worked for a friend onf mine, i started doing it but got sick of blowing up ballons every day __________________ Capt. of the "No Worries"

06-04-2013, 09:20 AM	#5
Rattlesnake Gal Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Central NH Posts: 5,252 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 1,451 Thanked 1,349 Times in 475 Posts	Fll Most towns have regulations about feeding the ducks. Wouldn't feeding these pesky geese be illegal too?

06-05-2013, 06:38 AM	#13
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,761 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 300 Thanked 1,014 Times in 739 Posts	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada_Goose Over on nearby Horse Island, a canada goose couple recently tended their nest for about a month until one day they slowly paddled away with seven yellow baby geese between them. __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake!

06-05-2013, 08:00 AM	#15
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,761 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 300 Thanked 1,014 Times in 739 Posts	Number nine; first digit on an unreadable number stamped into an aluminum band on its leg; would identify it as the goose that used to be at Horse Island, not that it makes any difference? I have a couple photos except all canada geese look alike and it is basically impossible to identify one from another....say hey....www.cheezit.com are not just for ducks, and make good food for humans, too, especially with a quality beer like Pabst Blue Ribbon! __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake!

06-04-2013, 06:36 AM	#2
tis Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,746 Thanks: 752 Thanked 1,459 Times in 1,016 Posts	I heard paintballs work too and firecrackers, but those are out of my league. I do chase them until they are out in the water but once they are in the water, they seem to know they are safe and move very slowly, maybe even going over to my neighbors or another place in my yard. One day I took the kayak and chased them way out in the lake. They weren't too happy that day, but quickly forgot that too. If anybody wants to come over and help goose chase, you would be more than welcome. Oh, I even got a slingshot (not to hit them but to scare them) and that does make them move. But I can't stand there all day and do that. Sunday, I put the rock in backward or something and shot myself. I have a big black an blue just below my shoulder.

06-04-2013, 07:26 AM	#3
Pineedles Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Moultonborough & CT Posts: 2,545 Thanks: 1,072 Thanked 668 Times in 367 Posts	My solution is to not have grass growing at the waterfront. Just natural pine needles on the ground. No mowing, fertilizing, weeding, and no poop!

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Pineedles For This Useful Post:
LIforrelaxin (06-04-2013), Merrymeeting (06-05-2013)

The Following User Says Thank You to Rattlesnake Gal For This Useful Post:
Pineedles (06-04-2013)

06-04-2013, 11:44 AM	#6
tis Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,746 Thanks: 752 Thanked 1,459 Times in 1,016 Posts	The twine and the flags have really worked the best for me so far, too, AC. The problem is, as the water level goes up and down and as the posts pull out from the waves or whatever happens, they are not at the right height and I find myself adjusting them all the time. That's why I think the fence might work. RG, I think there should be an ordiance against them even being in the lake. When you see how much they leave, you would not want to swim where they have been. I really think something is going to have to be done. Right now we don't have a lot, but last year someone posted a picture of about 25 of them -I think in Ctr. Harbor- and a few days ago I saw a flock fly over here. Two with their babies is bad enough!!!!

06-04-2013, 12:33 PM	#8
PaugusBayFireFighter Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 837 Thanks: 361 Thanked 674 Times in 264 Posts	My 3 cats have been having a blast with the geese. We have a few groups with goslings that are coming to my cove. A wrist rocket with a marble works great too. They come on my grass, they get marbleized!

The Following User Says Thank You to PaugusBayFireFighter For This Useful Post:
ITD (06-04-2013)

06-04-2013, 03:47 PM	#11
Happy Gourmand Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Ruskin FL Posts: 1,027 Thanks: 188 Thanked 322 Times in 179 Posts	How about those floats that look like an alligator. They have one at Akwa Marina and I've seen them around a couple places. They claim they work with all migrating birds.

06-04-2013, 06:17 PM	#12
tis Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,746 Thanks: 752 Thanked 1,459 Times in 1,016 Posts	I haven't tried that Phantom!

06-05-2013, 06:44 AM	#14
tis Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,746 Thanks: 752 Thanked 1,459 Times in 1,016 Posts	Last night, five adults FLEW in. My dog and I chased them away. This morning the two were back with the babies and we chased them away again. They didn't go far, just to my next door neighbors. So I know they will be back to visit.

06-05-2013, 08:48 AM	#16
PaugusBayFireFighter Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 837 Thanks: 361 Thanked 674 Times in 264 Posts	I notice the geese settle after dark when it's quiet and most people are indoors. The other day I set my irrigation sprinklers to turn on at 1am and 5am. This seems to be sending the geese to yards without this annoyance to them (sorry Rob). They are creatures of habit and will settle where they get the most privacy. Between the cats and the sprinklers I think I have them on the run!