Home › Canada Goose Management › Habitat Changes and Hazing for Resident Canada Geese
Habitat changes and hazing
In shortGeese want short grass, a clear view and an easy walk to open water. Letting a strip of tall grass or native plants grow along the shoreline, changing mowing, and hazing early and consistently in late winter and spring, before nesting, are the most reliable non-lethal ways to move them off a property.
What habitat changes discourage geese?
- Tall grass or native plant buffers along shorelines
- Plantings that block sight lines between water and lawn
- Mowing changes on large turf areas near water
When should hazing start?
In late winter and early spring, before nesting. Hazing that starts in summer, after goslings hatch, rarely works.
What does not work?
Feeding geese, plastic decoys that never move, and one-time efforts that stop after a week.
How do we help?
We set up a schedule and plan that combine habitat, hazing and nest and egg control so the flock shrinks and stays small.
Last updated October 18, 2026. Reviewed by DelChester Wildlife Conservation Group.
Frequently asked questions
Do goose decoys work?
Static decoys stop working quickly. Consistent, varied hazing combined with habitat changes works far better.
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