Tara stalked down the side of the golf course pond, as I paddled at the geese in the kayak. I had placed Blade at the far end of the pond, in case the geese doubled back. Blade had done most of the work the first four times we got the geese to fly off one of the four ponds.The pair of geese would only fly off as we herd-chased them to come down in an adjacent pond. This rarely happens with this rapidity but this pair was really fixed on these ponds. The fear from the golf courses perspective is that the geese would nest right there and maybe go as far to raise their young right were hundreds of golfers play.
As is the case at schools and parks, nesting geese can attack people that get in their territory. Geese will also leave a lot of droppings.Golf course crews and golfers don’t want to play through lots of goose poo and worry about being attacked. So, it’s best to convince the geese through repeated visits that they should not nest in certain places, like next to fairways and golf course greens.
The golf course superintendent waited on the shore of the pond at one end of the pond. Tara onshore and I in the water in the kayak continued to herd the geese. Blade kept hold of his position at the far end of the pond, ready for the geese to double back, make a break again toward that end. Whether it was our persistence, or the fact that Blade and Tara looked convincing, the geese, this time, the fifth time, did not fly back to another pond when they flew off. This time the pair flew off the course. The golf course superintendent looked relieved. I was happy all that paddling was over but to a good end. Tarra and Blade looked satisfied.
The idea is, with repeated visits geese will find a place to nest where they don’t bother anyone. Of course, what is considered a problem or a nuisance is in the eye of the beholder. I go with, what the property owner wants.Lead staff at a school, municipality, golf course or business have to decide if complaints about geese ruining fields or fairways or threatening at doorways or in parking lots is worth doing something about.The management of the property has the responsibility. The real issue as far as I’m concerned is that there is more and more development of land here in New York and Connecticut and Massachusets, where we work.There is less and less space for geese.I am an advocate for land conservation.
After the geese flew off the pond and course, finally, I turned the kayak around and beached it where I put in. Tara and Blade came over to me as I climbed out. Border Collies have a close bond with their handlers, and these two are no exception. Every goose control visit is different you never know what to expect. Goose control is about nature after all. The Border Collies by just using there eye to herd-chase the geese cause the geese to feel uncomfortable enough to move. As the golf course crew helped me get the kayak back into the vehicle one of their crew played with Blade and Tara. They have amazing energy, these Border Collies. I was happy for the crews help after all that work. We often are working on our own, one handler and two dogs on goose control visits. But this visit was much harder than most. The kayak was put in the vehicle and the Border Collies, and I climb in, and we are off to our next visit, one of six this morning. I was tired but happy with our success and smiled at just what work it was to move that pair of geese. You never know what will happen on a goose control trip.
The next day we on a goose control trip we visit a municipality.It was getting on toward evening.As I drove about the Town, I spotted on one of the playing fields geese grazing while 100s of kids practiced baseball. Geese with so many kids around was quite unusual too. I parked the vehicle and Skye; our most experience Border Collie and I walked down one side of the playing fields careful not to disturb the kids, parents, and couches. With a word, I sent Skye on an outrun and without bothering anyone she got the geese to fly away. Skye and I walked off the fields on to the next adventure.