Geese population growing

mishman · 06-11-2016, 02:49 PM

I used to see Canadian geese overhead in the spring and fall and it would put a smile on my face as they headed north or south. Unfortunately, now when I see geese they are nearly full time residents on the lake (at least eight months of the year) and the population is growing. When I think about how much they defecate in the lake, I can't help but think we need to get rid of these birds to protect the water quality of the lake. Do others feel the same?

tis · 06-11-2016, 03:57 PM

I don't like to harm any animals but I agree with you something needs to be done. They have at least 5 new babies every year. They are going to pollute the lake if they haven't already. There must be a way to get them to move!!

Hillcountry · 06-11-2016, 04:24 PM

Put some inflated balloons where they congregate and when they come shoot the balloons with a BB gun.

They are reaching varmint status.

garysanfran · 06-11-2016, 05:27 PM

Sends the PETA folks into fits.

I chased four of them off my beach yesterday. First time I've had them on my land.

Are they any good to eat?

Winnisquamer · 06-11-2016, 07:41 PM

Not even the annoyance of the crap all over your yard but how bout the health risk of your kids putting their hands in their mouths after harmlessly playing in the yard.. Push them 500' from a dwelling and wait for hunting season

secondcurve · 06-12-2016, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Winnisquamer

Not even the annoyance of the crap all over your yard but how bout the health risk of your kids putting their hands in their mouths after harmlessly playing in the yard.. Push them 500' from a dwelling and wait for hunting season

This is a simple problem to resolve. However, given the numerous federal regulations that are in place it is impossible to respond to the problem/threat. The solution is straight forward: increase the length of the hunting season and remove the bag limit. Also allowing homeowners to shoot unwanted geese with pellet guns much the same way they shoot unwanted red squirrels would help. If we did this for a couple of years balance would be restored.

upthesaukee · 06-12-2016, 08:10 AM

One of the problems with geese and lakeshore properties is the change from camps with very low maintenance lots to homes with nice lawns. (not just the so called McMansions)

Driving around the lake, or doing a putt putt cruise along the lake shore, you see geese on lawns grazing like bovines. Get rid of the grass and the geese will move. Someone needs to come up with a grass that looks nice (if you want to spend your lake time mowing, although a lot of these places do have landscape companies doing the yard work) but the geese don't like.

Sal · 06-12-2016, 09:16 AM

BBs are made of lead. Just the right size for loons to ingest. Not good.

Consider a good slingshot and a supply of glass marbles as ammo.
Usually not lethal but certainly painful when accurately placed.

Can be put into play when the flock approaches your shoreline.
A few near miss splashes are recognized and the flock tends to move off (to your neighbors property).

An energetic dog is also beneficial.

My observation is the damnable Canada Goose population increases each year.
A REAL solution should be addressed

Slickcraft · 06-12-2016, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sal

BBs are made of lead. Just the right size for loons to ingest. Not good.

Consider a good slingshot and a supply of glass marbles as ammo.
Usually not lethal but certainly painful when accurately placed.

Can be put into play when the flock approaches your shoreline.
A few near miss splashes are recognized and the flock tends to move off (to your neighbors property).

An energetic dog is also beneficial.

My observation is the damnable Canada Goose population increases each year.
A REAL solution should be addressed

All of the BBs that I have ever bought since a kid have been steel, not lead. Maybe you are thinking of shotgun loads or .177 cal lead pellets.

fatlazyless · 06-12-2016, 11:59 AM

Looks like Moultonborough has recently placed a life sized replica of a coyote in their softball field, right outfield position, to help keep the playing field a no-go canada goose, poop-free zone, or something!

Maybe the Village Kitchen could sponsor the Moultonborough coyote with a "hit the coyote-get a free chicken croquette dinner!"

and put the goose problem to work as positive advertising, or something, with the M-boro senior slow pitch softball league.

Sal · 06-12-2016, 12:41 PM

Yup. It was the .177 pellets I was thinking of.

Thanks.

noreast · 06-12-2016, 01:43 PM

Bring back Vikings, They will skin them alive and eat em raw.

Hillcountry · 06-12-2016, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slickcraft

All of the BBs that I have ever bought since a kid have been steel, not lead. Maybe you are thinking of shotgun loads or .177 cal lead pellets.

Correct. BBs are steel and pellets are lead.

mishman · 06-12-2016, 04:30 PM

I agree that lush green lawns attract geese by the score. How lawns are even allowed right down to the lake is beyond me. There is clear evidence that lawns lead to phosphorous getting into lake water. Why can't people restrain the urge to have green lawns in proximity to our lake? I don't understand it.

jeffatsquam · 06-12-2016, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by upthesaukee

One of the problems with geese and lakeshore properties is the change from camps with very low maintenance lots to homes with nice lawns. (not just the so called McMansions)

Driving around the lake, or doing a putt putt cruise along the lake shore, you see geese on lawns grazing like bovines. Get rid of the grass and the geese will move. Someone needs to come up with a grass that looks nice (if you want to spend your lake time mowing, although a lot of these places do have landscape companies doing the yard work) but the geese don't like.

As I've stated before.... I don't know of any Geese problems on Squam but I do know of very few lawns

TiltonBB · 06-12-2016, 07:23 PM

I am not sure if this link will work but I bought this scare tape about three weeks ago. I had pressure washed the area the geese "visited" 4 times since April and it was getting old. The geese had been regular visitors and left the usual piles.

Since putting the tape up the geese have not been back. This tape is somewhat like ribbon but shiny silver. It is effective and inexpensive.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

SAMIAM · 06-13-2016, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TiltonBB

I am not sure if this link will work but I bought this scare tape about three weeks ago. I had pressure washed the area the geese "visited" 4 times since April and it was getting old. The geese had been regular visitors and left the usual piles.

Since putting the tape up the geese have not been back. This tape is somewhat like ribbon but shiny silver. It is effective and inexpensive.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Great idea and cheaper than flags

06-11-2016, 02:49 PM	#1
mishman Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 179 Thanks: 59 Thanked 96 Times in 43 Posts	Geese population growing I used to see Canadian geese overhead in the spring and fall and it would put a smile on my face as they headed north or south. Unfortunately, now when I see geese they are nearly full time residents on the lake (at least eight months of the year) and the population is growing. When I think about how much they defecate in the lake, I can't help but think we need to get rid of these birds to protect the water quality of the lake. Do others feel the same?

06-11-2016, 05:27 PM	#4
garysanfran Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: San Francisco/Meredith Posts: 1,639 Thanks: 727 Thanked 705 Times in 363 Posts	Even a proposal of birth control... Sends the PETA folks into fits. I chased four of them off my beach yesterday. First time I've had them on my land. Are they any good to eat? __________________ Gary ~~~~_/) ~~~ ~~~~~~~~

06-12-2016, 08:10 AM	#7
upthesaukee Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Alton Bay Posts: 5,616 Blog Entries: 2 Thanks: 2,483 Thanked 1,988 Times in 1,088 Posts	Attractants One of the problems with geese and lakeshore properties is the change from camps with very low maintenance lots to homes with nice lawns. (not just the so called McMansions) Driving around the lake, or doing a putt putt cruise along the lake shore, you see geese on lawns grazing like bovines. Get rid of the grass and the geese will move. Someone needs to come up with a grass that looks nice (if you want to spend your lake time mowing, although a lot of these places do have landscape companies doing the yard work) but the geese don't like. __________________ I Live Here... I am always UPTHESAUKEE !!!!

06-12-2016, 09:16 AM	#8
Sal Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 311 Thanks: 103 Thanked 169 Times in 53 Posts	not a cure BBs are made of lead. Just the right size for loons to ingest. Not good. Consider a good slingshot and a supply of glass marbles as ammo. Usually not lethal but certainly painful when accurately placed. Can be put into play when the flock approaches your shoreline. A few near miss splashes are recognized and the flock tends to move off (to your neighbors property). An energetic dog is also beneficial. My observation is the damnable Canada Goose population increases each year. A REAL solution should be addressed

06-12-2016, 11:59 AM	#10
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 9,169 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 310 Thanked 1,103 Times in 812 Posts	..... hit the coyote! Looks like Moultonborough has recently placed a life sized replica of a coyote in their softball field, right outfield position, to help keep the playing field a no-go canada goose, poop-free zone, or something! Maybe the Village Kitchen could sponsor the Moultonborough coyote with a "hit the coyote-get a free chicken croquette dinner!" and put the goose problem to work as positive advertising, or something, with the M-boro senior slow pitch softball league. __________________ .... Banned for life from local thrift store!

The Following User Says Thank You to mishman For This Useful Post:
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06-11-2016, 03:57 PM	#2
tis Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,945 Thanks: 795 Thanked 1,493 Times in 1,040 Posts	I don't like to harm any animals but I agree with you something needs to be done. They have at least 5 new babies every year. They are going to pollute the lake if they haven't already. There must be a way to get them to move!!

06-11-2016, 04:24 PM	#3
Hillcountry Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: In the hills Posts: 2,419 Thanks: 1,664 Thanked 786 Times in 466 Posts	Put some inflated balloons where they congregate and when they come shoot the balloons with a BB gun. They are reaching varmint status.

06-11-2016, 07:41 PM	#5
Winnisquamer Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Winnisquam Posts: 408 Thanks: 72 Thanked 115 Times in 73 Posts	Not even the annoyance of the crap all over your yard but how bout the health risk of your kids putting their hands in their mouths after harmlessly playing in the yard.. Push them 500' from a dwelling and wait for hunting season

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06-12-2016, 12:41 PM	#11
Sal Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 311 Thanks: 103 Thanked 169 Times in 53 Posts	Slickcraft's correct Yup. It was the .177 pellets I was thinking of. Thanks.

06-12-2016, 01:43 PM	#12
noreast Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 648 Thanks: 316 Thanked 120 Times in 93 Posts	Bring back Vikings, They will skin them alive and eat em raw.

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ITD (06-12-2016)

06-12-2016, 04:30 PM	#14
mishman Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 179 Thanks: 59 Thanked 96 Times in 43 Posts	Lawns a problem I agree that lush green lawns attract geese by the score. How lawns are even allowed right down to the lake is beyond me. There is clear evidence that lawns lead to phosphorous getting into lake water. Why can't people restrain the urge to have green lawns in proximity to our lake? I don't understand it.

The Following 6 Users Say Thank You to mishman For This Useful Post:
ApS (06-12-2016), Diana (06-13-2016), Merrymeeting (06-12-2016), SAB1 (06-13-2016), Slickcraft (06-12-2016), SteveO123 (06-12-2016)

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upthesaukee (06-12-2016)

06-12-2016, 07:23 PM	#16
TiltonBB Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Gilford, NH and Florida Posts: 3,160 Thanks: 749 Thanked 2,277 Times in 986 Posts	Scare Tape I am not sure if this link will work but I bought this scare tape about three weeks ago. I had pressure washed the area the geese "visited" 4 times since April and it was getting old. The geese had been regular visitors and left the usual piles. Since putting the tape up the geese have not been back. This tape is somewhat like ribbon but shiny silver. It is effective and inexpensive. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1