We have all seen Canadian geese walking and swimming at our public parks, school sports fields, beaches, golf courses and grazing on corporate and residential lawns leaving their droppings everywhere? Let's face it, Canadian geese are no longer beautiful migratory birds just stopping by. They are here to stay and have become a persistent nuisance and a liability.
Although there are numerous control methods available, many are not effective. The Department of Environmental protections suggests using barriers, modifying their habit and frightening. Some methods for frightening include strobe lights, swans, predator decoys, chemical applications, fencing, remote controlled vehicles etc. Unfortunately many of those methods are doomed to long term failure, despite initial positive results. The reason they initially work is because they are new and cause the geese to become wary. However, over time they loose their newness and, by extension, their effectiveness. The only method that continually works is hazing with dogs. The predator prey relationship will always win out over other methods.
When all else has failed we suggest the regular use of trained herding dogs to effectively cause the geese to fly away. The use of a dog to "chase" the geese away is done in a controlled manner. Dogs that work for themselves have no controllable purpose. Yet, a trained herding dog can be sent on command, stopped, change direction and re-called once the geese have left the area. Trained herding dogs should be used early in the season before the geese have established a daily feeding routine (sunrise and sunset) and have established nesting areas. All geese should be removed from the area.
