Goose-Deterrent Methods

Grasses

• Geese are drawn to certain types of habitat and are repelled by others. Some of their favorite foods are short, fertilized grasses. They have a hard time eating longer, unmowed grass, especially if it is unfertilized. Reduce or eliminate mowing your grass to discourage the presence of geese. Plant tall prairie grass around any bodies of water. Geese have trouble walking through this kind of grass, and do not like to eat it. Plant vegetation that geese do not usually like to eat, such as periwinkle, juniper and English ivy. Eliminate goose food, such as brome grass, canary grass and colonial bentgrass.

Scare Tactics

• Certain harassment techniques can be utilized to discourage the presence of unwanted geese in your area. One of the most effective is the use of dogs. Simply keep your dog leashed and unable to attack or harm the geese to remain in accordance with the law. A barking dog will scare away even the bravest geese.

  Loud noise-makers can also frighten away geese, such as air horns or pots and pans being banged together. Firecrackers and bottle rockets can also provoke a reaction in most geese. Make sure that no pedestrians are in danger when using these devices, however.

Barriers

• Geese tend to land in a body of water and walk to shore. The presence of any type of barrier on the shoreline will discourage bothersome geese from landing in the water to begin with. Aside from tall grasses, more extreme barriers may be used as well if the problem persists. A low wall or chain-link fence about two to three feet tall, placed a short distance away from the shore, can be highly effective. Place large rocks or boulders equally interspersed throughout the shoreline to make walking and movement much more difficult for the geese.