Canada geese don’t leave a property because of a flag, a balloon, or a loud noise. They leave when something convinces them the ground itself is no longer safe. That’s the idea behind the Border Collie method Geese Chasers™ uses across Long Island: a trained handler and dog work a property on a set schedule until the resident flock decides somewhere else is a better bet. Below is how that process actually works, why it succeeds where scarecrows and noisemakers fail, and what the law allows during nesting season.

How the Process Works

1. Site evaluation: a handler visits the property to check flock size, roosting spots, and access points, at no cost.
2. Initial clearing begins: a trained Border Collie and handler visit multiple times a day, at varied and unpredictable times.
3. Predator pressure builds: each visit reinforces the same signal, that a predator is patrolling and the site isn’t safe.
4. The flock relocates: over 4 to 12 weeks, most resident geese move to a property that doesn’t carry that pressure.
5. Maintenance or on-call begins: once the initial flock clears, service shifts to daily monitoring or on-call visits.
6. Night runs, as needed: if roosting droppings appear after hours, a handler schedules a dedicated night visit.

Why Border Collies Work Where Other Methods Fail

The Border Collie was bred by shepherds in the border country between Scotland and England starting in the 1700s, specifically to stalk and herd. Confronted with geese, the dog crouches, stalks, and holds a low, wolf-like gaze; the goose reads that as an active predator, not a prop. Scarecrows, mylar tape, balloons, pop guns, noisemakers, fencing, and chemical turf treatments don’t carry that signal.

None of them move, react, or adapt, so geese habituate to them within days or weeks and settle back in. A live, repeated, unpredictable presence is what keeps the pressure real. Throughout the process, the dog never makes physical contact with a goose; the method relies entirely on instinct and presence, not confrontation.

Nesting Season and Egg Addling: What the Law Actually Allows

Nesting season runs from March through the end of June. If a nest is found before the eggs hatch, Geese Chasers™ can apply for a state and federal egg addling permit, which allows treated eggs to be addled, halting development, within the first 7 to 10 days after laying, given the roughly 28-day gestation period. Once addled, the parent geese typically abandon the nest on their own.

If goslings have already hatched, federal law prohibits removing or harming them; the family stays on the property for about 70 to 90 days until the goslings can fly, then leaves together. Because Canada geese are monogamous and can live past 30 years, a flock that raises young successfully on a property tends to return to that exact spot every year, which is why addressing a nest early in the season matters.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does geese removal cost on Long Island?

Cost depends on property size, flock size, and how long service is needed. A free site evaluation comes first, followed by a quote built around the specific property.

How long before the geese are actually gone?

Most properties see the resident flock clear within 4 to 12 weeks of daily initial-clearing visits.

Do the dogs ever hurt the geese?

No. The Border Collies herd and chase only; they never make contact with a goose.

What happens after the initial clearing period?

Properties move into either a Maintenance program, with continued daily visits, or an On-Call program, where visits happen within about 60 minutes of a request.

Can eggs or goslings be removed at any time of year?

No. Egg addling is only permitted within a specific early window after laying, and goslings are protected by federal law once hatched.

I already put up a fence and bought a noisemaker. Why didn’t that work?

Static or repetitive deterrents don’t behave like a predator, so geese adjust to them quickly. That’s the gap the Border Collie method is built to close.

Why Choose Geese Chasers™ Long Island for Canada Geese Control in Nassau, Suffolk, and Queens

• Locally operated by franchise owner Mike Mallek, serving Nassau, Suffolk, and Queens counties directly.
• Backed by the wider Geese Chasers™ Long Island network and its long-running experience clearing resident goose populations nationwide.
• Trained Border Collie and handler teams on-site multiple times a day during initial clearing, seven days a week.
• Free, no-obligation site evaluation before any contract is signed.
• On-call route adjustments made directly by a regional manager when new sightings are reported.
• Better Business Bureau accredited business.

Geese Chasers™ Long Island NY LLC, led by franchise owner Mike Mallek, has worked with commercial, residential, and municipal properties across Nassau, Suffolk, and Queens counties using this Border Collie method to clear resident Canada geese.