SOCIAL CIRCLE — The Canada goose lives in a variety of habitats, often in locations that are in close proximity to people, such as suburban neighborhood ponds, office complexes, parks, and other developed areas. This can become a frustration factor for homeowners and landowners when geese begin to molt in the summer, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division (WRD).

“Each summer, in late June and early July, I typically get a lot of calls about Canada geese,”  WRD State Waterfowl Biologist Greg Balkcom said. “This uptick in calls and questions goes hand-in-hand with the fact that geese go through a molting process in summer, during which they lose their flight feathers and are in the process of growing new ones.”

What can you do if you have goose problems? During most times of the year, geese can be scared away with the use of harassment techniques. But, because geese cannot fly during the molt, these techniques may not work right now.

During the molting season, WRD personnel encourage affected landowners and homeowners to be patient. The new feathers will soon grow in and the geese will regain their ability to fly and will likely move on. 

However, if geese continue to cause problems, here are a few tips to try: 

· Harassment: First, try a variety of harassment techniques (also called hazing), including mylar balloons, noise makers, or even trained herding dogs. These techniques may scare the geese away from your property. 

· Chemical repellents: Repellents can be sprayed on the grass in your yard to deter geese from feeding in treated areas. Most repellents require re-application after mowing or after rains.

 · Physical barriers: Barriers, such as wire or string 12-18 inches above the ground, or heavy vegetation (like cattails), along property lines or the shoreline can deter geese from using your property. This method requires consistency from the property owner and may not always be 100 percent effective.

 ·  Special permits to remove geese: In cases where the above techniques have been unsuccessful, homeowners who want to reduce or eliminate the goose population on their property can obtain a permit from their local WRD Game Management office (www.georgiawildlife.com/about/contact).  This permit allows them to have geese captured and relocated to a suitable area, or allows them to legally and lethally remove the animals.  The removal can be done by the homeowner or by a licensed nuisance wildlife trapper (list found at https://gadnrle.org/special-permits#nuisance).

It is important to remember that Canada geese are a protected species under state and federal law. It is illegal to hunt, kill, sell, purchase or possess Canada geese except according to Georgia's migratory bird regulations.

For more tips and information about Canada geese, go to www.georgiawildlife.