While we may still be buried under snow and ice, the arrival of Canada geese in the GTA is only weeks away. With spring goose season approaching quickly, now is the time to educate yourself and consider options for geese control—before the birds settle in and begin nesting.

Canada geese may return from their southern winter home as early as March. Once geese establish a nest, removal becomes significantly more difficult due to regulations and aggressive behaviour. Early prevention is the most effective and cost-efficient approach. Contact Hawkeye Bird & Animal Control now. 

Canada Geese, while a familiar and somewhat nostalgic sight, do cause a fair bit of headache and damage in urban, suburban, and rural areas. If you are seeking solutions to mitigate geese, we should talk about whether you want to control geese or remove them. Join us as we explore the diffrences.

Deciding Between Goose Control and Goose Removal

• Goose Control and Goose Removal are terms that are sometimes used interchangeably, but they are actually two very different approaches to wildlife management.
• Knowing the difference can help you choose the right strategy for your goose related problems.
• Do you want to manage the population of geese on your property or remove them altogether?
• Are the geese an occasional nuisance during migration or for a few weeks in the summer months? OR - Do the geese cause significant damage to your property or pose a health risk to people or pets?
• Both goose control and goose removal require permits from the government. The Canada Goose is protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which is an agreement between many countries around the world.

What IsThe Difference Between Goose Control And Goose Removal?

The difference is the objective. Do you want to manage the population (the numbers) of geese or do you want all of them to move on to somewhere else? Geese Control attempts to limit or maintain the number of geese while Geese Removal moves the flock off of a property. Let's look at how this can be accomplished:

Canada Geese are increasingly becoming a nuisance across urban and suburban properties. Common goose complaints include excessive droppings, aggressive behaviour, and nesting in unsafe or high-traffic areas.

Canada geese are a common sight on rooftops of commercial buildings, in public parks, industrial yards, municipal green spaces, Toronto's waterfront, and on the shores of virtually all of Ontario's many lakes. So, what can be done about that? Let's explore why falconry for goose control(a humane, non-lethal method) is so much more successful than repellents and/or visual or sound-based deterrents. 

Why Geese Are So Hard to Deter

First, we need to understand that geese are highly intelligent and social creatures that come with incredible homing instincts. When we hear homing instinct, we think of pigeons or doves... but geese are right up there. They learn and remember a migration journey thousands of miles long, from their spring nesting grounds to their winter home.

• Site Fidelity
  Geese return to the same nesting site each year, as long as it is safe and can sustain a growing family;
  
  
• Territorial Behaviour
  Canada geese are highly territorial during nesting season, often causing conflict between bird and human;
  
  
• Sheer Numbers
  Geese travel and often nest in large flocks, creating widespread disruption;
  
  
• Intelligence
  Traditional goose deterrents lose effectiveness over time as geese quickly realize that they represent no physical danger (e.g., decoys, or noise, sprays).
  
  

How Birds of Prey Work as Natural Goose Deterrents

Birds of Prey Commonly Used for Bird Control

• Falcons
  • Used in large open spaces, like landfills;
    Used for gulls and ducks;
  • Not ideal for large, aggressive geese
• Hawks (e.g., Harris’s Hawk)
  • Agile and able to navigate urban landscape, vineyards, and airport hangars;
  • Commonly used in pest bird management;
  • Not suitable for geese
• Eagles (e.g., Bald Eagles)
  • Strong presence and size
  • Best suited for intimidating and dispersing geese
  • Particularly effective in open areas like airports, large lawns, rooftops, and parks
    
    

Why Eagles Are the Best Bird of Prey for Goose Control

• Intimidation Factor
  Eagles are a top predator, able to take down a goose (although that is not the objective). Geese instinctively fear eagles;
  
  
• Visibility
  Eagles are large, dark raptors visible from long distances and instantly recognizable;
  
  
• Versatility
  Eagles are suited to work in open spaces (parks, rooftops, or runways) and complex environments;
  
  
• Proven Effectiveness
  Repeated eagle deployments create lasting avoidance behavior by Canada geese;
  
  
• Low Disruption
  Falconry using eagles produces no noise or mess; eagles blend into the environment and are safe around the public when flown by an experienced falconer.