There is nothing a goose loves more than a manicured lawn running straight to the water’s edge. If you mow it, they truly will come, bringing with them the messy "calling cards" that can quickly ruin a summer afternoon on the dock. By rethinking just a small portion of your shoreline and replacing that short grass with a buffer of native plants and natural habitat, you can create a beautiful, "goose-resistant" barrier that protects your property and the water quality of the lake.
Nuisance Geese
The Giant Canada Goose (Branta canadensis maxima), the world’s largest goose, once declared extinct in the 1950s, has made a remarkable comeback. Throughout the early 1900s, populations were decimated by unregulated hunting, egg collecting, and the destruction of wetlands for agricultural expansion. However, thanks to the dedicated efforts of biologists and hunter-conservationists, restoration programs proved so successful that the species is now a ubiquitous sight on lakes, golf courses, and residential lawns. In fact, to manage these now-thriving populations, regulated hunting seasons were reintroduced in the late 1980s.
However, many shoreline property owners may not be so happy about the Canada goose success story. Notorious for overgrazing, these birds can wreak havoc on lawns and gardens, leaving behind a mess of droppings that are both unsightly and unsanitary. Moreover, geese can be aggressive, especially during mating season, posing a threat to children and pets. Effective goose control not only preserves property value but also ensures a safer, cleaner environment for everyone.
As harbingers of spring, the familiar honking sound and sight of the “V-shaped” migratory flight pattern recalls Aldo Leopold’s recollections of the Canada goose in his classic A Sand County Almanac.
The migrating geese “ ….weave low over the marshes and meadows, greeting each newly melted puddle and pool. Finally, after a few ‘pro-forma’ circling of our marsh, they set wing and glide silently to the pond, black landing-gear lowered and rumps white against the far hill. Once touching water, our newly arrived guests set up a honking and splashing that shakes the last thought of winter out of the brittle cattails.”
Why Geese Love Your Lawn
Effective goose deterrence begins with understanding their behavior—specifically their habitat preferences, feeding habits, and breeding cycles.
- Habitat: Canada geese gravitate toward environments that mimic their native tundra. They are drawn to open spaces near water, which provide clear sightlines to spot predators and a quick escape route. This land-to-water access is critical during the summer molting season when geese are flightless and vulnerable. Even when they can fly, geese require long, unobstructed "runways" because they are slow to gain altitude, typically taking off at an angle of 13° or less.
- Feeding Habits: Geese primarily feed on grasses, grains, and aquatic plants. They are notorious for overgrazing lawns and crops, leading to soil erosion and degraded landscapes. A single flock can decimate a lawn or field in short order, leaving behind bare patches and damaged vegetation.
- Breeding Patterns: Geese typically breed in the spring, laying eggs in nests close to water. Once they have established a nesting site, they are likely to return year after year, making early intervention critical. During mating season, geese can be particularly hostile, making them quite dangerous to pets and children.
As it turns out, lakeshore properties with expansive, manicured lawns provide geese with every amenity they need for a comfortable and safe place to stay and raise a family. New-growth grasses and sedges are among a Canada goose’s favorite foods, which is why golf courses, homeowners' yards, drainage ponds—basically anywhere that is regularly visited by a lawnmower—have become their residences of choice. By removing these "amenities" and disrupting the features that attract them in the first place, landowners can significantly reduce the property's appeal to nuisance flocks.
Natural shorelines with vegetative buffers not only deter geese, but filter pollutants from entering the lake, protect shorelines from erosion, and provide habitat for native species.
Research shows that the most effective, humane, and environmentally friendly method of goose management is landscape modification—altering the very features that make a property attractive to geese. Consider these strategic changes:
- Restrict water access: Since geese prioritize easy entry and exit points between the lawn and the lake, make the shoreline less accessible.
- Disrupt sightlines: Geese are most comfortable with wide, unobstructed views to stay vigilant to predators. Incorporating taller plantings into your landscape removes their sense of security.
- Interfere with flight paths: Because geese require long, clear "runways" to take off, tall plants or overhanging tree branches can serve as natural deterrents that interrupt their flight paths.
- Eliminate the buffet: Geese love the tender, nutrient-rich shoots that appear immediately after mowing. Replacing these areas with a "no-mow" zone of tough, fibrous plants makes the property much less appetizing.
The "no-mow" zone is perhaps the simplest and most effective modification you can make to deter geese. More specifically, this is a vegetated buffer or shoreline garden featuring a diverse mix of native upland and wetland species (preferably native species) such as warm-season grasses, trees, shrubs, sedges, and rushes. Not only will these plants help deter geese from coming onto the lawn, but they can also help protect the shoreline against soil erosion, improve lake water quality, and create a diversity of habitats that support native fish, wildlife, and pollinators. Ideally, a 35’ wide vegetation buffer along the shoreline is recommended, but if this is not feasible, create a vegetative buffer as wide and deep as possible.
Native landscaping offers a sophisticated, low-maintenance way to transform your shoreline into a thriving natural sanctuary. Once established, these hardy plants require little care while introducing a rich palette of colors, varied textures, and visual interest to your property. By choosing native species, you are doing more than just deterring geese; you are creating a purposeful habitat for beneficial insects, pollinators, and songbirds.
Deter Geese at Your Cottage Using Native Plants is an excellent article providing a comprehensive guide for using native plants as a tool to deter unwanted geese. The article offers the following pictures to help you visualize the potential for beautifying a landscape while deterring nuisance geese.
Deterring Geese Reduces Swimmer's Itch
Finally, another benefit of discouraging Canada geese from your property is the potential reduction of swimmer’s itch. Recent research has found that there are multiple waterfowl hosts of the swimmer's itch parasite on Lake Leelanau, one of which is the Canada goose. Learn more about swimmer's itch prevention here.
Get Tailored "No-Mow" Advice
If you're plagued by geese or ready to create a "no-mow" zone, the Lake Leelanau Lake Association is here to help. Schedule a complimentary shoreline consultation with our trained Shoreline Ambassadors.
Schedule a Shoreline Consultation
Learn more about the program here, or click below to schedule your own shoreline consultation.
Resources
For additional resources about resolving human-goose conflicts see:
Michigan Department of Natural Resources Nuisance Wildlife webpage, or contact Michigan DNR Wildlife Division at [email protected] or 517-284-9453.
Canada Goose Damage Prevention and Control Methods (Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management)
How to Get Rid of Geese: A Definitive Guide (Avian Enterprises blogpost)
Other helpful resources include:
Habitat Modification and Canada Geese
The Michigan State University Extension Center for Lakes and Streams