Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Golf Course Canada Geese Problems

I started my career in the Golf Course Industry, so I have a particular fondness for managing geese populations on golf courses. At the course that I was the Superintendent for we used numerous tactics, but the best resource we had was the border collie that we purchased. And that was the start of the my education and then eventual career in Canada Geese Management.

I just read an article about a course in Canada and how they managed their geese population. There are some techniques that I think can be pulled, but also some lessons to be learned. First of all, I applaud the fact that they recognize the need for a multi-tiered approach. There is no quick fix. They used landscape management techniques, put in some fencing and used a "scarecrow" technique to try and instill the fear of a predator on site. The tactic that worked the best that they didn't even plan on was the Superintendent's dog that happen to be with him when he was on the course. Unfortunately, it wasn't a border collie, and they didn't deploy the dog on a regular basis at different intervals throughout the day. Their result was a decrease of only about 20% of the Canada Geese population, and that included the culling of the flock that they did in the summer.

I can't see how they can deem this a successful geese management program. On the course that I worked on with our border collie, we were 100% effective in deterring the geese from settling on our course. The border collie was used throughout the day and into the evening when needed. The geese were kept off the course by servicing the area on a continual basis. It was not on a short-term or seasonal service. Whenever we were on the course, the dog was on the course (respecting course etiquette.)

I like to see golf courses trying to manage their geese populations, as a golfer with little tolerance for disturbances or goose droppings, I wish they would all hire a border collie.

If you have any comments, let me know at www.ohiogeesecontrol.com.