# 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:** 13\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Patch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Patch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patch)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-wild-geese-in-our-pond/661176/41 "2013-06-19T03:07:03Z")
Years and years ago when I looked into handling a goose problem I found a granular substance you can spread on the grass they’re eating which was supposed to make it taste bad. Never did it, so I don’t know if it works, but if you can remove a food source it might be an option… ---
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-wild-geese-in-our-pond/661176/42 "2013-06-19T15:24:31Z")
1. You get a [decoy](http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200343844_200343844)or two. 2. Get a unit to play either predator calls or [goose distress/danger calls.](http://www.birdbgone.com/products/sound-deterrents.html) 3. Profit! ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-wild-geese-in-our-pond/661176/43 "2013-06-19T16:38:03Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Another possibility is to allow plants - reeds/grass/etc - to grow tall around the pond’s edge. IIRC, the geese do not like that, as they cannot see potential predators. Yeah, I had a guy tell me before that geese want about a 10’ head start to get flying in case something comes out at them. So if the area has stands of tall reeds/grasses on a regular basis, it’s very unattractive to geese who assume some fox/dog/coyote is going to pop out at them. The guy in question worked for a native prairie management company my company worked with. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-wild-geese-in-our-pond/661176/44 "2013-06-19T17:12:51Z")
No, really, why have you people been glossing over _lasers_?! Do geese chase the red dot all over the place and wear themselves out? Do you use boarder collies with freakin’ laser beams attached to their heads?! How expensive is it to build a pond, stock it with Canada geese, and then get to use lasers? ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-wild-geese-in-our-pond/661176/45 "2013-06-19T17:29:24Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > No, really, why have you people been glossing over _lasers_?! I totally want the laser gun in this [PDF](http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/Portals/9/pdf/goose%20conflicts/gooseconflict-11.pdf), though I’m guessing they haven’t made them in 20 years. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-wild-geese-in-our-pond/661176/46 "2013-06-19T17:43:28Z")
Some animal documentary or other that I watched a couple of years ago addressed the problem and systematically tried every kind of decoy or sound or kite or laser. The geese were either too smart or too stupid, and none of these worked. The only thing that worked was border collies, as mentioned upthread. ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-wild-geese-in-our-pond/661176/47 "2013-06-19T19:48:20Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > 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. Peacocks are noisy and their claws can scratch paint on cars. There was a flock of peacocks that I knew about in the desert. Nothing bothered them, not even the coyotes. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-wild-geese-in-our-pond/661176/48 "2013-06-19T19:58:00Z")
Basically you just have to be a loud neighbor. Go chase them every so often, and make loud noises unexpectedly. If you are near Washington DC, I happen to know a little girl and her dog who would be thrilled to come chase them around for you. 😉 Honestly, I don’t know which of them enjoys it more. \*Swans. Do not get me started on swans. I hate those frickin’ things. they are mean and vicious and I hate, hate, hate them. I bet they’d be yummy with plum sauce though. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-wild-geese-in-our-pond/661176/49 "2013-06-20T05:00:00Z")
> [@cedman](#): > > They are beautiful and poop everywhere! Friend, I think you may be interested in my latest product, Gander Pampers. $24.99 per case. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-wild-geese-in-our-pond/661176/50 "2013-06-21T13:12:24Z")
A local high school plays sounds of distressed seagulls, trying to keep them off the stadium bleachers and outdoor track. I’d hate to live next door to that school. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-wild-geese-in-our-pond/661176/51 "2013-06-21T14:07:48Z")
^We were invited to a picnic at a friend’s farm. I noticed the sound of screeching robins occurring with regularity. Turns out it was a system that was supposed to decrease blueberry loss to birds. Didn’t work, and was kind of aggravating. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-wild-geese-in-our-pond/661176/52 "2013-06-21T14:23:27Z")
Just a few weeks ago, my girlfriend and I were in northern metro Toronto and where there was a pond, even if it was on the edge of a strip-mall parking lot, there were Canada geese. Since this was a novelty to us Montrealers, we snapped some pictures. I’m just glad I don’t have to deal with them at home. ---
**Author:** ![cedman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cedman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cedman)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-wild-geese-in-our-pond/661176/53 "2013-06-21T21:29:46Z")
Well, we would have tried the dog gambit but the dog (named Zeus, half Rottie, half Shepard) that already lives there is a real sweetheart who loves all other animals as long as they don’t look or act like… another dog. Foxes he will kill in a flash, other dogs he will try to kill , but any and all birds are a-ok with him. We did try the BB gun but they just swam back and forth honking every now and then. Didn’t think it would hurt them just scare them… no luck. Turns out that years ago, my FIL (now deceased) got a special permit to kill pigeons with low velocity .38 ball ammo and the permit covers all fowl. He popped one and by the next morning, all were gone but the one floating face down in the water. Took three days for it to wash ashore. Looking for a willing shooter locally… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-wild-geese-in-our-pond/661176.md?page=2)