How the Rise in Goslings Increases Goose Infestations Across Vaughan

As highlighted in the recent news coverage on Windsor's goose infestation, there is a struggle with an increase in the goose and gosling population in cities and communities all over Ontario. Vaughan is one of those communities.

Spring has sprung and Canada geese are everywhere. This is the time when families with brand new goslings are strutting their stuff all across parks, golf courses, beaches, and busy roads. Mom and dad are protective and not above getting into a tussle with anyone who they feel gets too close to their offspring.  This stage brings new challenges for home and property owners having to deal with not only nests and aggressive geese, but highly visible and disruptive goose activity.

Why Do Goslings Change Everything?

• Adult Geese Become Extremely Aggressive
  Mother and Father Goose become quite territorial when goslings are nearby — they may hiss, chase, or attack approaching pedestrians or cyclists;
  
  
• Safety Hazard
  Goslings follow adults across paths, sidewalks, roads, and parking lots, creating a public safety hazard and increasing human-goose conflicts;
  
  
• Traffic Accidents
  Drivers swerving to avoid colliding with a family of geese or actual collisions result in thousands of dollars worth of damages and/or human injury;
  
  
• Inconvenience
  Families of geese linger for weeks, limiting access to building entrances, play areas, or outdoor workspaces;
  
  
• Escalating the Problem
  Property owners can’t rely on the assumption that the geese will “just go away.” In fact, the goslings hatched this spring will in all likelihood return to nest and start their own families next year.
  
  

Property Damage and Liability Risks

• Feces Accumulation
  Goose droppings can cause walkways to become slippery, unsanitary, and unwelcoming;
  
  
• Landscaping is Destroyed
  Because geese go after the very young green grass shoots (in fact, this is the main diet of young goslings), well manicured commercial or residential lawns are suffering considerable damage;
  
  
• Blocked Entrances and Walking Paths
  Geese hanging around business parks and housing complexes are a common sight and often disrupt business and pose risks to tenants or customers;
  
  
• Insurance and Liability Concerns
  Excessive droppings or conflicts with geese can cause falls or attacks — especially on small children, seniors, or pets.
  
  

Why Does Ignoring Goslings Lead to Long-Term Infestation?

1. Goslings imprint on the site where they hatched and are likely to return year after year to nest and start their own families;
   
   
2. Returning goslings can lead to a tripling of flock size EVERY YEAR;
   
   
3. Without intervention, infestations compound each season, leading to higher cleanup cost and effort, greater conflict, and more aggressive removal efforts later on;
   
   
4. Property managers often underestimate the impact of a single Canada goose family until it’s too late—then they’re left dealing with a much more expensive problem.
   
   

Strategies for Managing Goose Families with Goslings in Vaughan

Birds of Prey (Falconry Programs)

• Geese instinctively flee from raptors;
  
  
• Eagles flown by expert falconers disrupt and discourage goose nesting behavior without harming the birds;
  
  
• Particularly effective in open spaces like industrial parks, school fields, or commercial lawns.
  
  

Trained Goose Control Dogs

• Trained dogs are used to chase geese off the property without physical contact;
  
  
• Creates ongoing psychological pressure that encourages relocation.
  
  
• Effective for maintaining control without harming the birds or their young;
  
  
• Works exceptionally well in conjunction with falconry.
  
  

Remote-Control Vehicles (ROVs)

• Remotely Operated Boats are used in larger ponds where dogs are ineffective;
  
  
• The wake created simulates potentially predatory mammals in the water;
  
  
• ROVs serve to make the environment unstable and unpredictable;
  
  
• ROVs are best deployed after dusk when geese are on alert and more vulnerable.
  
  

Habitat Modification

• Taller Grass
  Geese prefer short, flat grass to have better/easier access to young shoots. Letting the grass grow to 4 inches or above can discourage foraging for those green shoots;
  
  
• Plant or Place Obstructions
  Geese look for open unobstructed views in order to spot predators early. By growing taller grasses, installing low fencing, or adding shrubs and boulders you can reduce visibility and make the area less attractive.
  
  

Pond Deterrents & Water Access Control

• If your property includes ponds or stormwater areas, you can install pond wiring or pond netting;
  
  
• Make shorelines and water access less accessible (especially for young goslings) with vegetation or obstacles;
  
  

Geese Relocation

• During the time when geese shed all of their primary flight feathers (molt), they can be rounded up and transported to a predetermined, approved, and prepared site;
  
  
• The relocation site is usually 400+ km south west of the round-up location and is a point on the natural migration route that geese will take later in the fall;
  
  
• The relocation site needs to be secured and monitored for the duration of time that geese will be staying there (until fall migration).
  
  

Time for Action

By now (early June) it is too late to prevent flock expansion as goslings have hatched. While all methods above can still be deployed, now is a good time to partner with an expert goose control company in Vaughan, such as Hawkeye Bird & Animal Control and devise a long term goose management plan.

What Vaughan Residents and Property Owners Can Do

• Do NOT Feed The Geese
  More public awareness and education is needed when it comes to purposely or inadvertently feeding wildlife; 
• Be Aware and Cautious
  As cute as those little ones are - keep your distance. Geese are large birds, tenacious and can cause serious injury.
  
  
• Implement Preventative Measures
  Try to incorporate some of the habitat modification methods on your property to discourage geese from settling or staying;
  
  
• Report Problem Areas
  Contact Vaughan's municipal wildlife services or wildlife management to report persistent issues;
  
  
• Consider Professional Help
  Consult with experienced and licensed wildlife and geese control specialists for effective and humane long term solutions to get rid of geese in Vaughan.
  
  

Stop Next Year’s Goose Problem Before It Starts

• Geese may seem “cute” when goslings are small, but the long-term costs of ignoring them are steep;
  
  
• Every nest tolerated today becomes 2–3 more nests in future seasons;
  
  
• Professional goose removal in Vaughan, when done correctly and ethically, preserves the safety, appearance, and operations of your property;
  
  

Contact Hawkeye Bird & Animal Control

With Hawkeye, you'll have over 35 years of experience with geese, their control, removal, and management at your disposal. From obtaining the right permits at the right time to innovative geese control solutions tailored to your needs and/or Vaughan property, we are here and ready to help you achieve your long term goals of managing goslings and preventing goose infestations in Vaughan.

Our geese removal services are available across Canada and the U.S. We dispatch geese control technicians (including falconers) from several locations in the Greater Toronto Area. Contact us today!

Related Articles: https://www.hawkeye.ca/blog/rooftop-geese-and-goslings | https://www.hawkeye.ca/toronto-geese-removal-control