Away with Geese – Goose Control Options for Golf Courses

It can be quite a job to keep geese off of a golf course or out of the grassy areas near the water at a park. Golf course maintenance crews are kept busy maintaining pristine greens, but dealing with geese and their messy droppings is an ongoing challenge. Geese forage on opulent green vegetation and will make a course their pit stop or permanent home if there is no proper goose control in place. For more expert strategies, check out our guides on how to get rid of geese from golf courses and exploring different forms of goose control.

Resident geese cause the most damage because they reside in the area all year round and often attract migratory flocks. Even low numbers of geese cause damage to turf and litter walkways with feces, lessening visual appeal and hindering recreational use. Cleaning up and sanitizing these spaces costs cities and businesses significant amounts of money, making proactive goose control solutions far more cost-effective.

The Health and Safety Hazards of Goose Droppings

Geese are responsible for about 4 pounds of droppings each day. When dried droppings are disturbed, they create dust that can carry numerous transmittable diseases. Feces also contaminate grass and water sources. Golfers paying high prices to play certainly do not want to wade through goose droppings or sanitize their hands every time they handle a golf ball. Furthermore, accumulated droppings make walkways slippery and hazardous. Instituting proper goose control strategies helps eliminate these health and safety issues.

Effective Goose Control Solutions

Goose control should ideally be addressed before flocks become an entrenched problem. Several reliable solutions are available for wide-open areas like parks and golf courses:

Sound Deterrents

Solar and electronic sound deterrents cover large areas—up to an acre or more with extra speakers. These programmable devices broadcast goose distress calls at timed intervals to drive geese away. They can be scheduled to remain silent during evening hours. Always choose a sonic device rather than an ultrasonic one, as birds cannot hear ultrasonic frequencies.

Visual and Liquid Spray Deterrents

Visual goose deterrents use bright colors, reflective surfaces, and predator markings that move in the breeze to frighten birds away. Additionally, non-toxic liquid spray deterrents made from grape extract irritate a goose's senses through taste and smell, safely repelling them from treated areas for up to three months.

Combining economical sound and visual deterrents makes it easy to keep golf courses and public parks clean, safe, and free from geese.