We have had several homeowners contact the HOA Board about damage the geese are doing to their properties and also goose droppings on sidewalks. In February, we had a meeting to discuss what can be done to help keep the goose population under control in our area. James Thiele, a Wildlife Biologist, came and spoke to the group.
Geese can defecate every 20 minutes up to 1.5 lbs. a day. This adds to the pollution to our ponds and promotes the growth of moss and algae.
It is very difficult to get rid of geese once they have chosen an area. They like to have an area that is very open, has short grass and easy access to water and food. Your beautiful lawns are perfect habitat for the geese.
Our goal is not to eliminate the geese but simply to keep the population in check. Geese can be very damaging to the environment. By trying to keep the population in check we can hopefully cut down on the property damage caused by the geese, yet still allow for the beauty of the geese on our ponds that many of our homeowners enjoy.
To attempt to keep the population in check Mr. Thiele suggested using a variety of methods. Listed below are some that he mentioned:
- Do not feed the geese. Geese tend to stay where there is food readily available. Feeding them bread can actually cause a deformation in the goose’s wing called Angel Wings.
- Frightening them – spray with water, laser pointers, flashlights, remote control boats on the water, do what you can to scare them off. However, be respectful of your neighbors.
- Put up barriers like fishing line so they can’t come up from the water onto property.
- Use strips of Mylar tape 2 to 3 feet long attached to poles so they can swing or flutter in the wind.
- Chemical repellant can be applied to yards
- Addling – Oiling their eggs – use vegetable oil to cover their eggs to prevent them from hatching. This requires a permit from the state.
We would like to ask all homeowners not to feed the geese as this is the easiest of all the recommendations and also because it is in fact harmful to the geese.
2 websites that Mr. Thiele suggested that give additional information:
Thompson Creek 
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