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Grower's Guide Page 1 of 6 <br />DNR GROWER'S GUIDE TO GOOSE PROBLEMS <br />A northward flight of Canada geese or goose broods swimming on a pond are signs of spring <br />Minnesotans welcome. However, the welcome quickly wears thin when geese begin feeding on crops. <br />This guide describes how growers can reduce or eliminate these problems. A combination of the <br />methods, customized for a grower's particular situation, will provide the best results. <br />Contents: I. Flightless <br />Scare Tape Shoreline Vegetation Management: <br />Energized Alternative Ceeding_Sites <br />Barrier Fencing <br />II. F1_ying_Geese <br />Hazing Propane Exploders <br />Flagging /Ballooning Crop Management Practices_ <br />III. Population Management <br />IV. Emergency Materials Assistance <br />4 FLIGHTLESS GEESE <br />Soybeans, sunflowers and small grains planted near wetlands and lakes are attractive to flightless <br />Canada geese. Flightless geese may be goslings which are too young to fly, or molting adults. Newly <br />hatched goslings eat primarily aquatic insects. However, after 3 weeks, goslings become grazers and <br />can move into adjoining crop fields. Action taken before goose damage begins is the most effective. <br />Scout wetlands and lakes adjacent to crop fields for goose broods in late April and May to identify <br />potential problems. <br />Bird Scare Tape <br />Bird scare tape or bird flash tape is a short-term or emergency measure to discourage geese from <br />walking into and grazing on crops. Bird scare tape is most effective when goose numbers are low and <br />where geese have alternative feeding areas available. <br />Bird scare tape is a thin shiny mylar ribbon. It is silver on one side, usually red on the other. When <br />properly used, the tape flashes in the sun and rattles in the breeze, frightening geese. <br />Use bird scare tape as illustrated in figures 1 and 2. Inspect bird scare tape daily and repair as <br />needed. Animals, people, equipment and wind can break the tape. A broken bird scare tape "fence" is <br />not effective. Position the tape where it is visible to the geese and long enough so geese do not walk <br />around it (figure 2). <br />Bird scare tape is available from: <br />Mail Order Twin Cities Retailers <br />MDT and Associates Wild Bird Store <br />612 -529 -4355 <br />Lyndale Garden Centers <br />Gurney's Seed Co. <br />605 - 665 -1930 (See Yellow Pages) <br />-23- <br />http: / /www.fw.umn.edu /research/ goose /html /growgd /grwguide.html 4/7/00 <br />