GEESE LIKE GRASS
Canada geese are a grazing animal. "During most of the spring and summer,
they're looking for green grass," Johnson noted. "That's what
you have with Kentucky bluegrass that's always growing nice and green."
They also like their grass short, so they can feed with an unobstructed
view. Lawns and golf courses provide a perfect feeding situation. "It's
just like ice cream to those birds," Johnson said.
Few North Dakotans will ever have problems with geese in their lawns. But
those who do have genuine concerns. While the grass the geese eat may or
may not be noticeable, the droppings they leave behind are. Imagine if every
dog in the neighborhood used your yard as a bathroom and you get a sense
of the potential problem.
Most homeowners and golf course managers have a higher tolerance for geese
than for dogs. These are wild birds, symbols of nature, and they like having
them around. But there is a breaking point, and that's usually when the
phone on Johnson's desk rings.
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