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Grower's Guide Page 3 of 6 openings no larger than 3 inches by 3 inches. Barrier fences may be constructed from woven wire, chicken wire, welded wire, plastic snow fencing, or rolled corn cribbing. Used fence materials are an inexpensive source of barrier fencing. Shoreline Vegetation Management Managing shoreline vegetation is an effective and permanent method of reducing goose damage to crops. Canada geese avoid using areas where plants block their view and restrict access to the field. Avoid tillage to the wetland or lake edge. Establish grasses that stand 36 inches or taller on a 50 -100 foot strip along the shoreline. Suggested grasses include big bluestem, Indiangrass, prairie cordgrass or switchgrass. These grasses generally remain standing after the snow has flattened other grasses. You may also establish a shrub belt and leave an unmown grass strip between the water and your crops. Contact your local Soil and Water Conservation District or the Natural Resources Conservation Service for details on establishing grasses and shrubs along shorelines. Temporary measures such as fences may be necessary to keep geese from your fields until the vegetation is established. Some growers may want to consider establishing pasture or hay crops adjacent to lakes or ponds. Although geese may sill use these crops, they have a greater ability to recover from goose grazing than other crops. livestock fencing on pastures can be modified to also exclude geese. Alternative Feeding Sites Alternative feeding or grazing areas can be effective at reducing goose damage when used in conjunction with fencing to keep geese out of target crop areas. Areas planted to small grain or a freshly mown area of grass less than 6 inches can provide geese an alternative grazing site. Contact your DNR Area Wildlife Office for further information on developing alternative goose feeding sites. „--FLYING GEESE Swathed grain left on the ground for more than a few days is vulnerable to Canada geese. occasionally, this is unavoidable due to weather conditions. Flocks of non - breeding or migrating geese are also attracted to newly sprouted grain crops in early spring. Most of the methods discussed here are designed to give the grower short -term protection until the grain may be combined, or to discourage flying geese from feeding on young grain crops until they become established. Hazing The simplest method involves frightening or hazing geese. In some cases, repeatedly chasing geese from the field on a vehicle or with a dog may cause geese to relocate. However, the field you with to protect must be constantly watched for hazing to be effective. Noise making scare devices known as pyrotechnics may be used to haze geese from your fields. Pyrotechnics include "bangers" and "screamers" fired from a special launcher or "cracker shells" used in a 12 -gauge shotgun. Use pyrotechnics consistent with manufacturer's instructions and safety precautions. -25- http: / /www.fw.umn.edu /research/ goose /html /growgd /grwguide.html 4/7/00