Each community and its environment is different and the specific application of these methods will vary to fit individual sites. 

GeesePeace assists its partner communities and organizations create a program that will work for them.

The first step is population stabilization using GeesePeace egg oiling protocols. This has three purposes

1) Slows down or stops the increase in resident goose population.

2) No goslings mean that the parents and other members of the flock have no reason to stay. Flushing them out is significantly easier and more effective when there are no or few goslings. It is inhumane to flush parents or harass goslings.

3) Recent studies carried out by the New York State and Michigan Department of Natural Resources indicates that geese that have a failed nesting experience will begin a molt migration to the nesting areas in Canada where migrating birds are molting.

The next step begins after nesting is over (early to mid May).  The resident geese that remain in the area will need a safe place to molt (lose their flight feathers). A geese exclusion zone is now established where there is zero tolerance for geese. In this zone a Border collie is used on each water body in the exclusion area. This means that the geese do not have a safe place to molt and they will go to secondary locations in the area which the geese find safe and has sufficient foraging area or they begin a molt migration. There are many areas in communities that provide a safe place for geese to molt and the geese are not causing a problem. Border collies should not be used in those areas.

Use landscaping to enhance the effectiveness of the Border collie. Planting of tall grasses, bushes or other vegetation provide a place for a land predator to hide thus increasing the effectiveness and perceived threat of the Border collie. The geese believe the Border collie is a predator. 

When these steps are followed most if not all geese in the exclusion zone will be gone, molting in areas where they will not be causing a nuisance. They will remain in these areas for six weeks to eight weeks because they cannot fly. Border collies are not used during this period. In late July or early August the geese regain their ability to fly and will begin pond hopping (see geese seasons). The Border collie is then reintroduced into water bodies in the exclusion zone. The geese quickly re-learn that these water bodies seem dangerous to them and they avoid them. There will be some geese landing from time to time but they will not stay long ... mostly to rest on their way to other safer water bodies. Repellents applied to strategic areas will keep these small number of geese out of sensitive areas.

The result is that the Community wide solution provides a wide area where geese are not a nuisance and it is done humanely without resorting to lethal action against adult or young geese or goslings. 

Border collies should not be used between mid November and mid May. It's too cold in the winter and nesting geese should not be disturbed. 

In the winter months repellents will keep geese away from areas where they are causing a problem. Since grass is not cut during this time the frequency of application can be reduced.

Repellents may also be applied in areas that are particularly sensitive. For example, properties near the nesting area may have a problem with the nesting geese. The repellents will keep the geese from feeding on sensitive areas. Also, repellents can be useful during the molting period to keep any geese or goslings off sensitive properties. Generally, the use of the repellents are of short duration which keeps the cost down. 

Finally, institute a no-feeding program. Any geese that do remain or visit from time to time should not be encouraged to concentrate in areas. It is also unhealthy for the geese and causes them to be aggressive.

See the Seasons for GeesePeace calendar for a yearly schedule to integrate all these stategies into a successful program.