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How Early Should You Implement Goose Control Measures?

Tuesday, June 24, 2025 | By: Goose Masters

Goose Management during Migration Seasons

Beginning in February, the goose migration season begins. Geese have made a name for themselves as very stubborn birds who will protect their nest with aggression and fervor. Once they have made a nest, geese are extremely unlikely to respond well to any management techniques. This period extends beyond the goose nesting season and into molting season as the young geese aren’t ready to travel on their own and need protection.

Because nest destruction and harming geese are illegal, we recommend people begin control methods before the nesting season is underway. Implementing goose management in areas that are already fully occupied by geese may require more frequent visits or longer-term control measures. Continue reading to learn more about goose behavior and what goose control techniques can be implemented to help reduce geese from taking over your property. 

When Is Goose Nesting Season?

Goose nesting season begins in the spring as geese migrate over several weeks. Migratory geese often return to their old breeding grounds, some even returning to the same place for many years. As geese settle in, they quickly become territorial and can become aggressive. Some geese, like Canada Geese, may not always migrate, especially if they find a comfortable area to live throughout the year that supplies the resources they need. 

Protective Planning for Goose Control

Goose management comes down to consistency and timing. With proper planning, Goose Masters can implement deterrence methods at the beginning of the migration season, which will be much more effective going forward.

Because geese are very stubborn birds and become aggressive once they begin nesting, proactive goose control is extremely necessary. While there are methods that Goose Masters use throughout the entire year, beginning earlier in the season is always best. Geese that successfully mate and nest on a property are more likely to return, which is a habit that is sometimes passed on to the next generation. By deterring these wildlife birds from nesting on your property, we’re not only scaring geese away now, but preventing even more from coming in the future. 

Wildlife migration seasons do shift as the climate changes, which means we see some geese migrating at different times. Migration will depend on the climate where geese migrate to and where they nest, so not all geese are on the same migratory schedule. Contact Goose Masters to learn more about migration patterns in your area and get an expert opinion on whether it’s too early to implement prevention methods. 

Don’t Hesitate to Act

Some property owners are hesitant to begin goose control, which only exacerbates the issue. We encourage anyone with a goose problem to reach out to Goose Masters so we can help you understand the scope of the problem and begin planning for a solution. 

By beginning goose control techniques earlier, we can modify the behavior of the geese and stop habits from forming. If a goose feels they are continuously in danger, they are likely to search for a new area to begin their nest. Because of their aggressive behavior, it’s much easier to handle geese as they come rather than after they have begun to settle in and create a new home.

If geese have already made up their minds and have started nesting, the situation becomes much more complex to solve. By making changes to your property, you can deter geese from wanting to nest there. Making it difficult for geese to enter and exit bodies of water, or not giving them areas where they feel safe from predators, can make a big difference. Modifying the habitat of geese has proven to be a successful supplement to more standard scaring techniques used by Goose Masters.

Effective Deterrence Methods 

Making precise changes in the landscaping of a property can change how geese behave. Geese love lush greenery and bodies of water near wide open spaces. Bodies of water offer geese protection as a means of escape from predators. By using fencing or netting to prevent geese from exiting the water, they are less likely to find the spot attractive. Certain types of fencing can also deter geese from coming onto the property. 

Overall, the most effective technique is by tricking the geese into thinking they’re unsafe. Geese are naturally afraid of wildlife predators like coyotes and wolves. Goose Masters uses professionally trained goose dogs to simulate a threatening hunting experience. Border Collies stalk the geese and make them feel unsafe in the area. By doing this repeatedly, the geese are likely to spend less time on the property and may even leave permanently. 

Ineffective Control Methods

We understand how frustrating a goose infestation can be, especially when they are aggressive towards you, your loved ones, or customers. There are DIY methods that claim to scare geese away, however, geese can quickly become desensitized to them. Sprays meant to deter geese from an area are ineffective because geese don’t have a strong smell. Audio devices that mimic the sounds predators make are meant to scare the geese; however, without any serious wildlife threat, the geese will remain. Some companies sell scarecrow-like plastic animals to appear like predators. Geese quickly release these fake animals posing no threat. Flashing lights are effective at scaring away geese for a brief period, but they quickly become used to them. This method isn’t even worth using during the daytime when geese are more active. 

Some property owners try to tackle goose control on their own, but many methods that are marketed as goose control deterrents are insufficient and a waste of money. Speaking with a professional can give you a better idea of how you can combine effective techniques with the help of Goose Masters to create a more concrete solution

Why Geese Control Is Important

Geese are aggressive wildlife birds and are known for bullying other waterfowl. With a goose nest nearby these birds take no chances when it comes to interacting with other birds. A large gaggle of geese taking up an area can have a pretty significant impact on the local wildlife. 

The ecological impact of geese is pretty astounding. Geese produce up to 2 pounds of waste each day. The damage that a gaggle of 100 geese can do to a small lake is dangerous for the local environment. Geese waste can contaminate the water, harm other wildlife, and even cause algae blooms that devastate local aquatic life. Parasites can even be spread from geese to other animals and even humans. 

Geese can also be aggressive towards humans. If a human is near a goose nest, they are likely to attack, and become very dangerous when threatened; geese can even break a human’s bone with their beak. This can be a major issue for golf courses, parks, and residential neighborhoods. If you’re having problems with geese on your propert,y contact Goose Masters and set up a meeting! 

Goose Masters Goose Control Services

Goose Masters offers goose control and management services to residential and commercial properties. We work with residential nieghborhoods, golf courses, parks, outdoor recreation facilities, college and business campuses, and more. Contact the Goose Masters team to learn more about how we can help you! 

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