Types of Canada Goose Repellents and how they work

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The control of Canada geese is often challenging, with many methods of controlling other nuisance wildlife not working well for an animal that can just as easily lumber along the ground as it can fly in the air. Thankfully, there are a number of methods you can use to make life easier. Goose repellents may be one of them, but you will need to know some more information before you buy them.



Most goose repellents on the market rely on something that creates a bad ‘smell’. Geese can’t actually smell, but they have mucous membranes that can be affected in a similar fashion to the way that human’s smell. Using the non-toxic repellents on the market and applying them to the areas the geese are hitting the most should result in a goose-free zone. This is usually not the case, with many homeowners reporting little to no effect whatsoever.

Balloons can work more effectively than these commercial liquids designed to repel birds and geese. You can also use flapping plastic bags. They don't like to be disturbed, you see, so anything that flaps around and makes a lot of movement is a good place to start. You need to get yourself something that works as a goose scarecrow.

Food-aversion tactics are another approach taken by those looking to create goose repellent products, and this means that the area is coated with a bad-tasting concoction that really does taste so bad, it literally drives the birds away. Sadly, this rarely works. We’re not sure if the stuff just doesn't taste that bad, or if the geese just get used to it after a while, but effects, if any, seem to be rather short lived.

All of these repellents that we are discussing will need to replaced or reapplied regularly in order for them to work effectively. Liquids will need to be reapplied after you have watered your garden, for example, or after a heavy rainfall. You will also probably need to reapply them anyway, just to make sure they have any effect, every few days or so. If you are using an expensive product, this expensive just mounts. As soon as you stop using the repellent product, the bird just comes back. Thats even more so the case if you haven’t cleaned up after them. The droppings and urine actually signal to other geese.

Sonic repellent devices are another approach to take when looking at Canada goose repellents, although some of those devices are mighty expensive! Just a quick peek online will show you a range of products, ranging from a couple of bucks to a couple of thousand. These are mostly advised for larger outdoor spaces, such as parks or golf courses, and work by sending out ultra sonic warning signals that humans can't hear, but geese can. The calls are basically telling the goose to get out, in its own language. Again, it’s another goose repellent that can come with a range of results, and that's a risk move when you’re talking about a couple of thousand bucks!

Read my How to get rid of Canada Geese guide.
For more information, you may want to click on one of these guides that I wrote:
How much does bird removal cost? - get the lowdown on prices.
How to get rid of birds - my main bird removal info guide.
Example bird removal photographs - get do-it-yourself ideas.
Bird job blog - learn from great examples of bird jobs I've done.