With over three million Canadian geese nationwide, these large birds can create all sorts of problems. 
Geese are typically found around lakes, reservoirs, large ponds, and near rivers and seashores. Geese are herbivorous and feed on aquatic vegetation, grasses, seeds, grain, and berries. They are also creatures of instinct and habit, often returning to the venue where they were born. In the absence of predators (like foxes and coyotes), geese have become quite prolific, especially in urban areas.
Without a workable goose control strategy, invading flocks of geese will commandeer an area and will create quite a mess. This includes feathers, nesting materials and, of course, droppings. Deposited in ponds, lakes and other bodies of water, goose droppings can contaminate these and other areas. Geese will also eat holes in lawns and shrubbery, denuding gardens and farm crops, and making for some very unhappy property owners.
Finally, as most people have read or heard on the news, geese can present a real safety hazard around airports. In some cases, these collisions have actually downed the aircraft, which is what happened to US Airways Airbus after a flock of geese disabled both engines, forcing it to land in the Hudson River.
It’s no wonder goose control measures are now required at many airports. Deterring geese from airports is important not only for the safety for pilots and passengers, but also for geese. Read the rest of this entry »
