# How to get rid of wild geese in our pond? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 17, 2013, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-wild-geese-in-our-pond/661176 "2013-06-17T13:02:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-wild-geese-in-our-pond/661176/21 "2013-06-17T19:58:27Z")
> [@August\_West](#): > > [Swan Decoys](http://www.gemplers.com/product/151509/Mute-Swan-Decoy) work pretty well. I’ve also seen large pinwheels deployed at the water’s edge. They installed a bunch of 3D coyote decoys where I work. The Canada Geese congregate and poop around them. ---
**Author:** ![thicksantorum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@thicksantorum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thicksantorum)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-wild-geese-in-our-pond/661176/22 "2013-06-17T20:22:48Z")
I find it amusing how scarecrows/decoys don’t work on crows, but work on most other birds. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-wild-geese-in-our-pond/661176/23 "2013-06-17T20:23:05Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > . . .Important points. Geese won’t willingly leave goslings, so you can’t really chase them away if there are goslings about. Geese molt, and can’t fly for 8-10 weeks, so it’s pointless to chase them then. So, in other words, sometimes chasing away wild geese can be a wild goose chase! ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-wild-geese-in-our-pond/661176/24 "2013-06-17T22:19:10Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > They installed a bunch of 3D coyote decoys where I work. The Canada Geese congregate and poop around them. But I’d be willing to be there are no roadrunners near by. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-wild-geese-in-our-pond/661176/25 "2013-06-17T23:21:39Z")
Wild Geese? I find that they’ll leave just as soon as they get a chance to retake Ireland. Tell them Franz, Duke of Bavaria, has landed. > [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > Just curious… is it legal to do this? I thought Canada Geese were federally protected. Shake? What like scramble them? [Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Migratory_Bird_Treaty_Act_of_1918) is probably the most relevant. Note that you can hunt many of these species (certainly not all, and only take Bald Eagle feathers if you’re in the right tribe), provided you have proper state license and it is within legal hunting season. Id the OP’s had wanted to use lethal measures, proximity to urban areas would also be an issue. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-wild-geese-in-our-pond/661176/26 "2013-06-17T23:25:59Z")
Border Collie ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-wild-geese-in-our-pond/661176/27 "2013-06-18T00:42:15Z")
Statue/cut-out of a fox, coyote, or wolf, with an attached tail that will move in the wind. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-wild-geese-in-our-pond/661176/28 "2013-06-18T00:50:51Z")
> [@cedman](#): > > We have 12 +/- wild geese that have taken up residence in our pond. They are beautiful and poop everywhere! How can I get them to leave? > > Conditions: > > 1. Shooting is not legal in this area. > 2. I don’t want to shoot any of them. > 3. Is shooting geese legal anyway? only in season, which is too bad. Geese are assholes and IMO deserve to be eaten. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-wild-geese-in-our-pond/661176/29 "2013-06-18T01:08:20Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Border Collie That’s the nuclear option. Then you’ll need to get border collie-eating gorillas, but they will just freeze to death come wintertime. > [@jz78817](#): > > only in season, which is too bad. Geese are assholes and IMO deserve to be eaten. Swans are assholes, but everyone (who has never met one in person) thinks they’re beautiful. As for geese, I imagine that in Canada they call them American geese or something, so as to not claim those bastards. Also, tasty! ---
**Author:** ![Bozuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/edb3f5/32.png) [@Bozuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bozuit)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-wild-geese-in-our-pond/661176/30 "2013-06-18T01:10:18Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Step 3, before the geese molt, chase them away, lasers and border collies are options. > [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Lasers work great in the short term Tell me more about these lasers. Are they just as effective at destroying humans? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-wild-geese-in-our-pond/661176/31 "2013-06-18T01:20:57Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > That’s the nuclear option. Then you’ll need to get border collie-eating gorillas, but they will just freeze to death come wintertime. I remember a TV news segment on a golf course with a large pond infested by Canada Geese. They tried using one Border Collie who had been successful on smaller ponds. This pond was too large, they just swim off to some other end of the pond when the dog came around, wearing him down by the end of the day. But then they got a second one. The dogs figured out the strategy in no time, and as soon as the geese headed off to another part of the pond they found the other collie there waiting for them. It didn’t take long to wear out the geese and they took off for friendlier ponds. > [@](#): > > Swans are assholes, but everyone (who has never met one in person) thinks they’re beautiful. As for geese, I imagine that in Canada they call them American geese or something, so as to not claim those bastards. > > Also, tasty! They are foul fowl. Swan killings are common, the perpetrators if caught usually cite being attacked by the swans, face prosecution, and are publicly declared as monsters for killing those beautiful creatures. If they start a defense fund for swan killers I’ll donate some money. ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-wild-geese-in-our-pond/661176/32 "2013-06-18T12:02:00Z")
We had a beaver pond behind our house, surrounded by woods, and at some point a pair of geese started coming around and breeding. They returned every year. Our neighbors thought they were cute and fed them. Poop everywhere. In our case, there was one spot where the geese liked to exit the pond and walk out onto our lawn. I eventually put up some grey plastic netting at that spot, and the geese left and never came back. Obviously this solution depends on the topography of your pond. ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-wild-geese-in-our-pond/661176/33 "2013-06-18T13:13:20Z")
p.s. – They also make [motion-activated sprinklers](http://www.amazon.com/Contech-CRO101-Scarecrow-Activated-Sprinkler/dp/B000071NUS) that shoot a jet of water at them. I haven’t tried this, though. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-wild-geese-in-our-pond/661176/34 "2013-06-18T17:25:36Z")
Nuke 'em from orbit - it is teh only way to be sure (Not serious, but I couldn’t resist) Brian ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-wild-geese-in-our-pond/661176/35 "2013-06-18T18:06:02Z")
I would seriously check on the legality of anything you do. I know people have posted internet links, but if you get in trouble saying, “I read it was ok on the internet” never gets you off. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-wild-geese-in-our-pond/661176/36 "2013-06-18T19:35:58Z")
Canadian geese are more annoying than swans. There used to be two swans in a pond next to the building I worked at. Seemed peaceful as can be. I used to go out and eat lunch next to the pond. Then one day the swans see me and FREAK THE HELL OUT! They are coming at me, wide wings, honk-honk-honking. I got out of there. The next day, all is fine. This happened a few more times. Until I realized my green pants/tan shirt combo led them to believe I was the feeding guy. They weren’t freaking the hell out. They were happy to see me! ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-wild-geese-in-our-pond/661176/37 "2013-06-18T20:50:42Z")
I also will suggest plywood cutouts of some predatory critter, they are set up around a big pond near the medical center and I haven’t seen a single bird. Swans may be assholes, but we also have a swan pond in a town (their big claim to fame) and a gigantic human asshole decided to stagger out of a bar at 2 a.m., pick up their eggs and throw them against the fence, against the road, against a building…He was a drunken drugged-out son of a filthy rich local honcho. To avoid being lynched, he was sent to dry out in a rehab. The swans laid a second clutch of eggs. Whoever is in charge of the swans finds the cygnets new homes around the state. While you are talking about birds, how about peacocks? Are they OK to have around? I know a couple who just moved out to the sticks and are researching the pros and cons of peacocks. All I know is they are noisy noisy birds. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-wild-geese-in-our-pond/661176/38 "2013-06-18T20:57:14Z")
> [@miss\_elizabeth](#): > > if you get in trouble saying, “I read it was ok on the internet” never gets you off. Rule 34. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-wild-geese-in-our-pond/661176/39 "2013-06-18T23:04:58Z")
Seriously, you can _hire_ any one of several [Border Collie goose control services](https://www.google.com/#sugexp=ernk_timepromotionb&gs_rn=17&gs_ri=psy-ab&tok=F9965ZaH3jffggCtUo0dlg&suggest=p&cp=18&gs_id=e8&xhr=t&q=border+collie+goose+control&es_nrs=true&pf=p&sclient=psy-ab&oq=border+collie+goos&gs_l=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_cp.r_qf.&bvm=bv.47883778,d.dmg&fp=ac4003ce24345e25&biw=1920&bih=950). A program I saw on dogs claimed the technique is hugely successful. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-wild-geese-in-our-pond/661176/40 "2013-06-18T23:19:48Z")
Last week my state health dept closed swimming at several lakes. Goose shit had raised the water fecal tests to an unsafe level. They used fireworks to scare off the geese and added chlorine. I think most of the swimming areas are back open this week. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-wild-geese-in-our-pond/661176.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-wild-geese-in-our-pond/661176.md?page=3)