What Are The Risks Of Ignoring A Goose Infestation?
Geese Can Pose A Major Health Risk
A fact that many find surprising is how much waste a single Canada Goose can produce. In a single day, one of these birds can drop up to two pounds of feces. When a flock is migrating, this will only cause temporary harm, but if a group of Canada Geese is nesting for the season, their waste becomes a major health risk.
Bird poop is known to be dangerous and has harmful parasites, bacteria, and other risky contaminants. There are often protozoan parasites found in geese poop, a single-cell organism that spreads from bodies of water to the birds, and beyond. Contaminants in the geese waste can be dangerous to dogs and other pets. As parasites and contaminants pass from animal to animal, they may be passed onto humans, too. Your dog’s health, and yours, can be directly impacted by these contaminants, causing severe health concerns in your stomach. Salmonella and E. coli are both frequently present in geese waste and can be dangerous to anyone who comes in contact with it. If ignored, a goose infestation can bring dangerous health risks to the area and even impact local water supplies, wildlife, and more.
Causing Damage to Property and The Local Ecosystem
Canada Geese aren’t commonly associated with causing damage, but their plentiful feces can wreak havoc on your property. Because bird feces are highly acidic, and Canada Geese produce such a significant amount of it, their feces can eat through car paint, cause damage to turf, and kill grass as it piles up. Allowing these birds to continuously live on your property is risky and can cause costly damage.
The local ecosystem is also at risk from an infestation. A large number of birds in one area for an entire season can produce a lot of waste that is harmful. A few birds can’t cause that much damage, but a large gaggle of dozens of birds can make a major impact. Canada Geese like to reside near bodies of water, and their waste will inevitably contaminate them. Algae blooms may occur at certain times of the year when water is overrun by goose feces. If bad enough, a harmful algae bloom can be toxic and kill many of the wildlife that reside in the water. This can eradicate fish in an area and cause significant ecological damage. Many natural bodies of water act as hunting grounds for local animals and provide water and food for the surrounding wildlife.
Don’t ignore geese on your land. Contact a goose control company like Go Geese Go in order to have proper bird management to improve your situation.
Aggressive Birds and Dangerous Behavior
Canada Geese are one of the most aggressive waterfowl birds. Generally speaking, Canada Geese don’t get along with other birds and see other animals as dangerous predators. They frequently cause conflicts with other wildlife. As a flock increases over time, its numbers become less manageable, so they should not be ignored.
When nesting, geese will attack humans, dogs, and even cars. Businesses should be wary of geese infestations and nesting birds. Geese are the type of wild bird that will attack customers when threatened and become extremely territorial. When nesting, geese become aggravated when anyone comes near their eggs. While generally this is near bodies of water, geese have been known to nest in unusual places in urban areas. It becomes a safety concern when there are geese nesting on the property. Once Canada Geese begin nesting, they will not abandon their eggs. If you have customers visiting a business with aggressive geese, they may be attacked while on your property.
Overpopulation of Canada Geese
Because geese migrate in flocks, the size of their groups changes over time. Without implementing any bird control techniques, you may see the bird population on your property slowly increase. In some circumstances, even after migration, the new generation of geese will stick with their flock. Go Geese Go uses specialty-trained Border Collies as a way to help manage the Canada Geese population. As our Goose Dogs continuously scare the animals away, they prevent each bird from wanting to begin nesting on the property.
While beautiful and majestic in some ways, Canada Geese can be considered a wildlife pest. It can be difficult to find effective ways to control the population of geese, especially because they are protected and nest removal is a punishable offense. Physical removal of a Canada Goose is an illegal act, as these birds have federal protection. Instead, you must not touch them and use a non-lethal deterrent to cause them to flee from your property. If you are facing a bird problem, have Canada Geese running free on your property, or need help controlling the growing population of geese in your area, contact Go Geese Go.
Canada Geese Aggressing Other Birds
We have established that Canada Geese are aggressive birds. They become especially aggressive during nesting season, and are often in fights with other waterfowl birds. As goose numbers rise, they can become a dominant force in the area. Their general aggression towards other waterfowl may scare off ducks, swans, and other birds. It’s important to recognize that allowing a goose population to continue growing can impact the local wildlife. It goes beyond just the birds, but can impact the entire ecosphere. Don’t wait to call Go Geese Go to learn more about how we can prevent physical conflicts with geese on your property.
Maintenance Cost of Geese Waste
Geese are not just a nuisance, but can leave destruction and pollutants wherever they go. Their droppings end up on pathways, parking lots, and in landscaping. Geese will leave their droppings across a large property as they roam around looking for food. Even a property that is well-maintained is at risk of being littered with goose poop.
Cleaning up after Canada Geese is a lot of work. Because each bird produces such a high amount of feces, they leave droppings everywhere.
Not only will you need to provide better maintenance for cleaning up after the geese, but you may also need to do additional landscaping. Canada goose droppings are very acidic and can damage grass and other plants in the ground. Geese also use landscaping for food. They will walk the property looking for grass and decorative plants to eat while leaving a trail of waste behind them. Because geese are very aggressive, it may be more difficult to landscape around them, especially if they have started nesting.
The Impact on Businesses in Ohio
Geese can cause problems in residential subdivisions, parks, and public spaces, but they can also impact businesses. Geese love golf courses for their large, manicured lawns, safe, calm bodies of water, and the lack of real predators. This can create problems for the business as the geese become aggressive with patrons. Outdoor malls and other shopping centers that attract geese can experience similar issues. Instead of being afraid, if the geese are harassing or injuring customers, be proactive and prevent the geese from settling in.
Get in Contact with Go Geese Go
It’s highly unlikely that geese will leave your property. Even if they do, it will only be for migration, and you will probably see them again. Ignoring the problem will only make it worse, as the geese have ample time to create a home for themselves and build a routine. They will begin to spread illnesses, leave waste across the property, attack dogs and humans, and create a permanent home for themselves. If you want to get control of the situation, contact us to schedule a consultation.