Geese? Pond?

[Wildneg]

So I was on a call for work about 15 minutes ago and looked out my window and saw two geese just strolling through my back yard. One stopped and started at me for a few. They were coming past my children's play set and from the direction of the pond.

I took a walk out there just now to see if I saw prints but I didn't see anything out by the pond. I did notice most of my minnows gone but almost 100% sure they are hiding in the few milk crates I have setup with rocks around / on top of it. Some are swimming around though. The school breaks up a lot and usually have a few groups swimming independently. It has also dropped like 30 degrees in the past 30 hours.

I took a look online and sure enough, they say geese will eat small fish they can swallow quickly. Such as minnows. Anyone have experience with geese hanging around their ponds and eating up their small fish? I’m trying not to jump to any conclusions. I’m going to check the security camera footage here in a few to see if they ever made it there.

They are on the other side of the house right now eating grass which I thought is what they ate. They gave me the evil eye a few times but all is good.

Pond is like 20’ x 40’ with 2’ deep sections and 4’ deep sections.

 

[Wildneg]

Watched video. Never made it by the pond. They are just munching on my good grass I think. I hope when the wife gets home with the two kids, they do not get chased. Or else that'll be the end of the geese coming in the yard. They seem pretty relaxed though.

 

[sissy]

geese will eat anything . They used to have major problems with them in NJ at warehouses and businesses .Raritan center in Edison was a nightmare of geese . They used motion activated sprinklers and the worked for awhile but geese got used to them and they would poop every where .poop was slippery like ice . You will have to keep chasing them away o they will have babies and babies will come back every year to have babies and then babies will have babies . We have that problem here in Virginia but it is turkeys.

 

[Wildneg]

geese will eat anything . They used to have major problems with them in NJ at warehouses and businesses .Raritan center in Edison was a nightmare of geese . They used motion activated sprinklers and the worked for awhile but geese got used to them and they would poop every where .poop was slippery like ice . You will have to keep chasing them away o they will have babies and babies will come back every year to have babies and then babies will have babies . We have that problem here in Virginia but it is turkeys.

So, if only two... I should probably make sure they 'do not like' my yard/pond/area? Probably better to do this up front before others come (if they do). I have 2.5 acres of very nice lawn I manage. Plus do not want them chasing my kids. I know Canadian Geese are "protected".... but so are my kids (by me!)....

 

[j.w]

So, if only two... I should probably make sure they 'do not like' my yard/pond/area? Probably better to do this up front before others come (if they do). I have 2.5 acres of very nice lawn I manage. Plus do not want them chasing my kids. I know Canadian Geese are "protected".... but so are my kids (by me!)....

Maybe a temporary short fence around your pond will discourage them from your pond. If they are wild they will prolly be scared of all the humans. When you go out there do they fly away or leave your area? If so I doubt they will hurt chase the kids. You can chase them away every time you see them out there too and they should get the idea they aren't welcome hopefully!

 

[Wildneg]

Maybe a temporary short fence around your pond will discourage them from your pond. If they are wild they will prolly be scared of all the humans. When you go out there do they fly away or leave your area? If so I doubt they will hurt chase the kids. You can chase them away every time you see them out there too and they should get the idea they aren't welcome hopefully!

The one side eyed me for about 5 minutes... I heard horror stories about geese as well. I fought a few wild turkeys at my old place 20 miles south from where I am now... so a goose isn't going to scare me off. But not a bad idea about a fence. I watched more security tape of the other side of the house and they just ate grass for about 45 minutes. They slowly moved over my road into the neighbors yard too. I think they were just 'passing thru'. But I'll be keeping an eye out and setup alarm alerts within 'zoneminder' which is the software I use for the security.