In the picturesque setting of Jackson Hole, it’s easy to admire wildlife from a distance. But when geese take up residence on your property, admiration can quickly shift to frustration. These invasive birds are intelligent, social, and surprisingly territorial. Once they’ve claimed an area—whether it’s a manicured lawn, commercial lot, park, or private acreage—they’re not inclined to leave quietly. Their droppings accumulate fast, their honking is relentless, and they can show unexpected aggression, particularly during nesting season.
Beyond being a nuisance, the presence of geese can create real issues. Accumulated droppings damage grass, clog drainage systems, and create slip hazards. In agricultural areas, they trample crops and contaminate water sources. Even in residential spaces, they can dominate ponds and drive out native birds. And once they decide your property is a great place to raise their young, it’s hard to change their minds—unless you approach the problem with the right strategy.
Understanding Their Behavior Is Half The Battle
Geese aren’t just passing through during migration anymore. Increasingly, many flocks are staying put year-round, especially if they’ve found an environment with few threats and plenty of food. Open lawns, golf courses, parks, and business grounds unintentionally offer a buffet of resources and minimal interruption—essentially turning these places into permanent homes for geese.
But the real challenge with managing a goose population isn’t about scaring them off once. It’s about changing their behavior. Geese are creatures of habit, and they don’t respond to one-off tactics for very long. They adapt quickly, and without a thoughtful, rotating approach, they’ll simply return—sometimes even in larger numbers. That’s why goose removal needs to be about long-term deterrence, not just temporary fixes. It’s about making the environment less comfortable for them without causing harm, and that takes experience, patience, and the right tools.
How Professional Goose Deterrence Works
The goal with geese is to encourage them to leave the area and not come back, and to do that, you have to make the space feel unpredictable and inhospitable—from their perspective. That’s where our work comes in. We use a mix of methods that target the way geese interact with the landscape, each selected based on the environment and the behavior of the geese on the property.
Hazing techniques—like trained working dogs—are used to instill a sense of danger. These dogs aren’t chasing with the intent to catch; rather, they mimic the presence of a natural predator in a controlled, responsible way. Geese take note, and it breaks the cycle of comfort they’ve come to associate with the space. In open fields or near bodies of water, lasers are another tool we use to disrupt their roosting habits, particularly during early morning and evening hours when they’re settling in. It’s not harmful, but it’s enough of a disruption to convince them this spot might not be worth the trouble.
We also use light fencing in strategic places to make landings and access to water more complicated, which geese find discouraging. And in some cases, it’s necessary to use visual deterrents, auditory cues, or even change the landscaping itself to remove the easy food sources that drew them in the first place. None of these methods involve harming the birds. That’s not part of the process, and it’s something we take seriously.
Why Local Knowledge Matters
Jackson Hole offers a unique landscape—and geese adapt to it in unique ways. The strategies that work in flat, urban environments might not translate well here. Our mountains, fields, ponds, and seasonal shifts all affect how geese move, settle, and respond to deterrence. Understanding that natural rhythm is a huge advantage when developing an effective removal plan.
In addition to reading the behavior of the geese themselves, we pay close attention to the needs of the property owner. Every property has its own rhythm too, and we’re mindful of how foot traffic, pets, outdoor events, and business hours factor into the equation. Timing, consistency, and respect for the space all play into the success of the removal strategy. The work doesn’t stop after one visit—it’s a process, and we keep showing up to make sure the geese aren’t getting comfortable again.
Let’s Solve Your Goose Problem Humanely
At RM Wildlife And Pest Solutions, we’re not interested in shortcuts or one-size-fits-all answers. When it comes to geese, our work is built around understanding their habits, disrupting their comfort zones, and doing it in a way that respects the environment and the animals themselves. We don’t use lethal tactics. That’s not who we are. What we offer is a reliable, effective, and professionally managed service that gets results without unnecessary harm.
If you’re tired of geese turning your property into a mess—or worse, a territory they think they own—contact us today. We’d be glad to walk you through your options, share how we approach each case, and help you reclaim your space. Contact us today to get started or learn more about how we handle goose removal.
Frequently Asked Questions About Geese
Q1. Why do geese love settling in Jackson Hole—and why is that a problem?
A1. The mountainous west's wide-open green spaces, pristine lakes, and low predator presence make it an ideal landing zone for geese. Once they arrive, they rarely want to leave. The problem? Their droppings can accumulate rapidly, turning beautiful landscapes into biohazards. They can also become aggressive during nesting season, making walks in the park—or even your own yard—less than peaceful.
Q2. Can geese really damage property or affect local wildlife?
A2. Absolutely. Aside from the sheer mess they leave behind, geese graze intensely on grass, which stresses lawns and disrupts natural vegetation. Their presence near ponds and creeks can also drive away other wildlife and increase bacteria levels in the water. Over time, these disruptions alter the balance of local ecosystems and create long-term maintenance headaches for property owners.
Q3. What are the best ways to deter a goose problem without harming them?
A3. A combination of methods works best—visual deterrents like predator decoys, motion-activated sprinklers, and even trained dogs can encourage geese to move on. Altering the landscape by letting grass grow taller near water or installing barriers makes your property less inviting. The key is to act early, especially before nesting season begins in the spring.