Understanding Migratory vs Residential Canada Geese
Canada geese seem to be everywhere these days. If you have a manicured lawn and a water feature on your property then you have a good chance that you have pesky geese on site.
This time of year you will see two types of geese:
- Migratory geese – These Canada geese pass through in the spring and fall. They are generally wary, and are easily hazed with our trained border collies. Migratory geese are often attreacted by the presence of resident geese, causing large seasonal populations.
- Residential geese – These Canada geese stay in one general area throughout most of theyear but may migrate short distances during periods of severe weather. They are usually found in urban areas. Resident geese are familiar with local water and food sources and are much more stubborn when it comes to hazing or deterring from your property.
In the early 1900’s Canada geese populations were nearly eliminated in most of North America by commercial hunting, egg harvesting, and the draining of wetlands. At this time the government implemented stricter game laws and habitat improvement programs to help the population bounce back. They also bred geese to release into the wild. When these geese were released into the wild, they were never taught the migration patterns, nor did they teach following generations. And this population grew. Over the past 10 years, their populations increase about 1-5% per year, particularly in urban areas where there are few predators, prohibitions on hunting, and a dependable year-round supply of food and water.
What can you do about it?
To get rid of Canada geese, you need to use a multi-prong approach. When used together their combined effect is stronger. To develop an integrated strategy you should consider the following:
- Size, terrain, and how the site is used
- Time of year the problems with geese occur
- Methods used in the past
- Number of nests and goslins in past years
- Available control options for migratory and resident geese populations
- Costs, legality and humane control methods
Ohio Geese Control’s certified goose management professionals are trained to understand the Canada goose habits, and we will develop a specific action plan to help combat the problems you are having with geese. Just contact us for a free on-site demonstration and we can give you more details.
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