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Harassing the Geese ~ What a Sight to Behold

By
Real Estate Agent with Front Gate Real Estate Broker 11085

A neighbor stopped by to comment about the Canadian Geese that have taken residency in our neighborhood. Since we have fresh water and green spaces, they seem to like it here.

If you've never lived with waterfowl, you don't truly appreciate how nasty they can be. Sure, they are fun to feed and interesting to watch, but have you ever noticed how much POOP they produce?

According to an article I read, one goose can consume up to four pounds of grass a day and poop up to two pounds of droppings. Since geese mate for life, two plus two will soon equal a gaggle of geese! A safe estimate would be that we are home to over 200 geese.

Geese in Street Photo by Pat Starnes

While researching how to relocate the geese, I visited the MS Wildlife, Fisheries, & Parks website.  An article suggested loud noises, bright lights, barking dogs, and spraying the geese with water to "harass" them so they would leave.

One thing led to another, and someone suggested we throw a "Neighborhood Harassing Party". I suggested we hire a Mariachi Band and all the kids could bring bongo drums, horns and whistles to chase the geese away.

What a sight that would be. Some may think we were "Living La Vida Loca"!


 

If you are considering a move to Brandon MS or the surrounding area, or if you are a home owner interested in what your home is worth in todays market, feel free to call me at 601-278-4513 or email starnpat@gmail.com. I'll help make the homebuying or home selling process as seamless as possible. 


 

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About the photo: While driving down the street one rainy afternoon, the geese strolled calmly down the middle of the road, causing me to stop in my tracks. The photo was taken from the drivers seat. You can see raindrops on the windshield in the top left corner of the pic.

 

Comments(17)

Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

Geese are water fowl you don't play with. I agree they can be nasty.

May 20, 2017 04:39 PM
MichelleCherie Carr Crowe .Just Call. 408-252-8900
Get Results Team...Just Call (408) 252-8900! . DRE #00901962 . Licensed to Sell since 1985 . Altas Realty - San Jose, CA
Family Helping Families Buy & Sell Homes 40+ Years

My youngest lives in a mobile home that has LOTS of geese! It's cute to see the goslings in the spring, but you can bet their parents are protective. Most geese around here aren't even phased by cars honking at them anymore, they'll just spread their wings to intimidate right back! It's funny... as long as you have your windows up 

May 20, 2017 05:05 PM
Linda Blumenthal
631-819-2913 - Westhampton Beach, NY
NYS Licenced Real Estate Salesperson, CBR

Where I live, you can often find wooden cutouts that are shaped like dogs. You see them on school grounds, etc.  Keeps the geese away.

May 20, 2017 05:06 PM
Sheri Sperry - MCNE®
Coldwell Banker Realty - Sedona, AZ
(928) 274-7355 ~ YOUR Solutions REALTOR®

Hi Pat, 

Those geese are intimidating.  It reminds of a scene from an old western where the cowboys are getting ready for a fight at the OK Corral!

May 20, 2017 05:44 PM
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

Be sure to post your Neighborhood Harassing Party video on YouTube!  

May 20, 2017 06:12 PM
Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty
Front Gate Real Estate - Brandon, MS
601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell

Joe Pryor - when I was a newbie to the area, I liked to feed the geese, esp with my granddaughter. A neighbor scolded me for feeding them. Now I understand why!

Michelle Carr-Crowe-Top 1% Diamond Certified Real Estate Team Sells Cupertino San Jose Homes-Just Call 408-252-8900 - Our geese don't mind us as long as we don't mind them. The problem comes from the poop on city sidewalks. 

May 20, 2017 06:45 PM
Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty
Front Gate Real Estate - Brandon, MS
601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell

Linda Blumenthal - if wooden cutouts work, we need to try it! Thanks for the tip.

Sheri Sperry - MCNE® - I was tickled pink to get this photo. I was amazed how evenly spread out the geese were.

Fred Griffin - I haven't tackled YouTube videos. I'll keep trying.

May 20, 2017 06:47 PM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Looks like the neighborhood watch out on patrol Pat. They look like they mean business.

May 20, 2017 08:52 PM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

At our local park in recent years, the Canadian Geese have increasingly taken over.  We can no longer spread a blanket on the ground for a picnic!

May 21, 2017 04:18 AM
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

Good morning Pat.  I vote for the Mariachi band and party.  Let us know how it turns out.

May 21, 2017 05:08 AM
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

Pat Starnes You are correct on the opiion regarding how geese make perfect neighbors for your 'favorite' friends. Not only the poor habits of them, but they can become aggressive with children and small pets.

May 21, 2017 05:39 AM
Sheila Anderson
Referral Group Incorporated - East Brunswick, NJ
The Real Estate Whisperer Who Listens 732-715-1133

Good morning Pat. I have seen the effects that geese have on neighborhoods and am glad I don't have that now. Great photo.

May 21, 2017 06:45 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Pat, have to agree!  We have geese by our corporate office, and you have to be very careful where you walk, green piles everywhere.  It is nasty!  

May 21, 2017 07:04 AM
Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty
Front Gate Real Estate - Brandon, MS
601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell

Debe Maxwell, CRS - Pin a badge on them and they are ready! Ha

Myrl Jeffcoat - It's too bad you can't picnic without being bombarded. Next time, take noisemakers with you. My guess is they have become domesticated enough that they are no longer afraid.

 

May 21, 2017 08:13 AM
Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty
Front Gate Real Estate - Brandon, MS
601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell

Gabe Sanders - See my comment to Myrl Jeffcoat about the noisemakers. Tamborines and drums! What a party.

Sandy Padula and Norm Padula, JD, GRI NMLS#1483386 - I guess we could use my alligator to keep them away! Mississippi Alligators

May 21, 2017 08:16 AM
Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty
Front Gate Real Estate - Brandon, MS
601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell

Sheila Anderson - We've learned to co-exist. But they make a big mess in walking areas. They can do a job on the green spaces, i.e., bare spots in the sod.

Joan Cox - Absolutely! Yuck.

 

May 21, 2017 08:19 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Hi Pat

Funny story, and photo, but really not so much. We had tons of them back in New England and they created all sorts of issues, especially in public spaces. Fun to watch, especially with babies, but boy they can make a mess. And they pretty much do what they want and go where they please!

Jeff

May 21, 2017 12:29 PM