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Less than fifty years ago, the giant Canada goose was extremely rare in Indiana. But now, after efforts to save an endangered breed, Canada geese are now quite common. The law in Indiana prohibits us from harvesting geese except during hunting season or by permit.

Here on Simonton Lake, we are not advocating killing off all the geese, although I admit that after picking up a bucket of goose droppings from my lawn, I have thought about it.
Why they like us so much.

We landowners have created an ideal goose habitat. Geese feed extensively on fresh, short, green grass. Geese, including their young, also have a strong tendency to return to the same area annually. Once geese start nesting in a particular place, it is likely more geese will nest there in the future.

WHAT CAN WE DO TO KEEP THE GEESE OFF OF OUR LAWNS?

There are many products on the market including lights that produce light that disrupts the sleep patterns of the geese, and “fences” that can be placed at the shoreline discouraging geese from coming into a lawn.  In addition, several homeowners on the lake have purchased coyote decoys.  I did that and found one day that the geese were taking selfies with the plastic coyote.  

The State of Indiana two other ideas:

OIL THE EGGS Once there are 5 eggs in a nest a thin coating of food-grade corn oil can be applied to the eggs which prevents them from hatching.  Because the female has created her quota of eggs, she will not re-nest and lay more eggs. The Indiana DNR says that egg oiling is 95 to 100% effective.  The problem with this solution is that you must watch for nesting to take place and check the nests daily for eggs and apply the oil with a rag or sprayer.

GET A PERMIT TO RELOCATE THE GEESE

The other solution is to get a state permit to relocate the geese.  This can be done by an HOA or an individual landowner.  Across the state there are several companies who do relocation.  Of course, there is a fee for this service.