The Canada Goose is a beautiful bird, but for property managers, it is a formidable pest. A flock of resident geese on a corporate campus, golf course, or HOA pond creates massive liability and maintenance issues.

The Problem with Resident Geese

Unlike migratory geese that pass through, “resident” geese stay year-round.

The Mess: A single goose produces 1-2 pounds of droppings per day. A flock of 50 can cover sidewalks and entryways in slippery, unsanitary waste.
Aggression: During nesting season (Spring), geese are fiercely protective. They will attack employees, customers, or residents who walk too close to a nest, leading to injury liabilities.
Turf Damage: They graze on grass and trample landscaping, turning manicured lawns into mud pits.

Management Strategies

Geese are federally protected, so you cannot harm them. You must annoy them until they leave.

1. Egg Addling (Population Control)

With the proper federal permits, we can treat the eggs in a nest so they do not hatch. This stabilizes the population and encourages the adult birds to eventually move on when the nest fails.

2. Habitat Modification

Geese love manicured grass right next to water. They hate tall grass where predators might hide.

Buffer Zones: Planting tall native grasses or shrubs around the edge of a pond discourages geese from exiting the water onto the lawn.

3. Harassment (Hazing)

We use trained border collies or lasers (at dawn/dusk) to harass the flock.

The Logic: The dogs herd the geese without harming them. The geese realize the property is not a safe predator-free zone and relocate to a safer body of water.

4. Visual Deterrents

In specialized cases, we install “flight turrets” or predator decoys, though geese often get used to static objects quickly.

Effective goose control requires a multi-faceted approach. HWCS works with property managers to design seasonal plans that keep walkways clean and safe.

Canada Geese Management: Protecting Commercial Properties