Are Canada geese dangerous? Here’s how you can ethically get them off your California lawn

Jacqueline Pinedo
Updated ·2 min read
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Canada geese can be spotted year-round around California, especially in areas where they have access to water — and serve an important role in our ecosystem.

Let’s be real, they can be annoying, too. They’re noisy, known for their loud honk, they leave droppings everywhere and if prompted at the right time, they can be aggressive.

Oh, and sometimes they take their sweet time holding up traffic.

There are ways we can interact with these federally-protected birds — hard to miss, identified by the distinct black-feathered neck and gray body — ethically and safely.

Here’s how to avoid a scuffle, and — if you need to — push these geese away from your yard and home:

Are Canada geese dangerous?

Geese will protect their young, are known to have good memories and trained to avoid hazards.

That means, if you mess with their nest — you’ll have an angry gander to deal with.

The birds mate from February to April, then nest from April to May, according to the Humane Society.

During their nesting period, if provoked, the birds can become defensive.

But they will otherwise avoid conflict, and walk away when presented with danger.

Don’t feed geese, because that can cause them to lose their fear of humans.

How to get geese to go away

The birds tend to flock around areas that are familiar and associate with being safe, according to the Humane Society. The longer geese have used an area, especially to nest, the harder it will be to get them to move.

If you’re looking to move a gaggle of geese from your community, it’s best to try and relocate the birds after their goslings have flighted in late summer, or before they have established their nesting territories.

Here are some quick ethical tips to get Canada geese from leaving an area, according to The Humane Society:

  • Make your area unattractive (to geese) by reducing food and nesting capabilities. This could be done by replacing grass

  • Limit access to open water to create weariness for the bird

  • Scare the geese away. Yes, that means you can run after them (just not their babies)

  • Don’t feed the geese — they’ll just get comfortable

You can also put up short fencing, as geese prefer walking to flying.

Penalty for hurting birds

Both resident and migratory Canada geese are protected by federal law in the United States under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, as well as state law.

Intentionally harming geese, their eggs or nests is against the law and can result in fines. Under the Migratory Bird Treaty, harming a geese can result in a misdemeanor or felony.

Misdemeanors carry either six month imprisonment and/or a $15,000 fine, a spokesperson for the Department of Justice told The Raleigh News & Observer in an April interview. Felonies can result in up to two years of prison time and a $100,000 fine.

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