The geese themselves generally get out of my way on the MUP. It's the little landmines they leave behind ALL OVER, that really cheeses me off! :)

There's also a gang of wild turkeys that hang out near the confluence trail between Alton and Hartford. They generally duck into the underbrush when I go by, but I hear that turkeys can be quite aggressive too...

We have lots of geese here in Canada. I never found them to be a danger when riding my bicycle, all you need to do is slow down and use a bit of extra caution. I have seen cars and 18 wheelers stop and let them cross roads... I think squirrels are a much greater road hazard for cyclists, I've ridden over one with both front and rear wheels, those little rats will run and jump out of nowhere into moving traffic.

There are now resident geese populations all over the US. Part of the problem is that people like to feed them. If there is a steady food source, they stay. I totally agree with others who say they're basically very large rats with wings. They're a menace, and they pollute the water and make a big mess on land as well.

I'm actually fine with migratory geese. They only stay a little while on their way north or south, and I like how seeing them flying in formation marks the changes in seasons.

This. While I encounter geese along my travels on the MUPs all the time, it isn't until they have their goslings that they become extremely aggressive. I've had to change my commuting route for a month or two when they became overly aggressive towards me every morning.

I agree. Taste is somewhere between an Owl and a Bald Eagle.

The Canadian geese around here are no real problem. They tend to clear off the path when people are riding by. The Toulouse geese will also move off, if slower. However, when some jerk with an off-leash dog frightens them, one or two will manage to take flight. Well, such flight as a Toulouse goose can manage, which means about head height. It's a flying bowling ball and I definitely don't want to be the pin.

Definitely have seen many of them on the MUP, just sitting in the middle of the road, watching people walk/jog/bike around them like they own the road. I tried to scare one off once and got as close as possible while riding to see if the little bugger would move at all, ended up buzzing its tailfeathers and it didn't even move! Cheeky bastards...

Oh god, I HATE geese. I grew up near the Platte River in Wyoming and had grandparents in Ft Collins, CO. Mean bastards. They chase, peck and bite worse than dogs...

They were here last month refueling but they stay in the pastures and wildlife areas. Never got closer than about 20 ft to them.

I enjoyed having them. Would love to eat one too.

Yeah, here in Eugene we have a permanent population of Canada geese. It's really funny in the fall and spring when their instincts are telling them to migrate but since they stay here year-round they just fly back and forth. There's also some funny-looking geese at the memorial gardens here in town because some of the domestic Greylag geese have been interbreeding with the wild geese.

And yes, they march up and down the bike path and don't move, no matter how much I honk my AirZound.

Thanks for the tip, tsl. I'll bear it in mind.

Speaking of goose crap........my employer, upon hearing an enormous overhead flock, decided to view them from outside at a formal wear dinner party, with unfortunate results. :lol:

+1

We must have more aggressive geese here than y'all. Pretty much only greenhorns and newbies to the area hiss at the geese, and they usually only do it once, especially the megaflock in the Greenhill area.

I ran over a duck once, and saw someones dog grab it and run off when I stopped to look.

Ha! That duck's goose is cooked! Dog devours dawdling duck decisively decked by bemused bicyclist before being bitten by bystanding bowser!

I don't mind the geese. Prefer them to crows or gulls all day long. One note to fietsbob - there is a migration but here in SW Idaho we have a resident population of several thousand that never leave. You can find them along the river 365 days a year.

No, they're not. Things have changed and they stay all year.

Same here since we have setup a number of wildlife refuges for them, along with adjacent ranch pasture land and restrictive hunting measures in place.

I for one will not go into trying to scare any of these geese, from personal experience, many larger birds tend to lighten their load upon takeoff, and there is nothing fun about getting caught out in a white rain storm.

You can actually take this a step further... On certain days, preferably when the temperatures are slightly below normal but warmer than the previous day and yet cooler than the projected low/high for the next day, you leave your mount and approach them slowly. Because geese do not understand human language, you need to bridge the communication gap and the most effective way is to try to replicate the deep throaty purr of a large housecat. Geese and cats are natural associates and this, over time, will allow you into their confidence. Once established as a non-threat you can begin the relatively simple task of explaining to them about the dangers to themselves and others when loping slowly across the MUP. Like the *hissing* described in an earlier post, you can "speak" to the geese in a very "breathy" tone where, believe it or not, Pig Latin appears readily understood. Be careful though, you might find that you enjoy spending time with our feathered friends but certainly this will erradicate your geese "problem". I've had such luck with these methods I've actually trained the geese I encounter to keep clear of the MUP, only to surface, surround any rider on a recumbant bike and do the Harlem Shake. It's hilarious.

Seagulls are even more .. omnivorous scavengers, and they dont Migrate away to somewhere else..

:roflmao2:

I hereby dub thee "Dances With Geese."

I like 'em too. My Canada Goose jacket lack some feathers. :troll:

Seagulls are really cool. To me, they are the motorcycle gangsters of the bird realm. If you throw food up at them, they will catch it in the air! Then they'll poop on you.

For the most part they leave people alone like some have said. But here in Mays Landing NJ the Hamilton Mall is over run with the damn things & YES the goose crap is effing everywhere!!!

I remember a couple of summers ago, I watched as they held up all of Rt 40 crossing the 4 lane hwy. But what was the kicker, was as soon as the stubber basterds heard finally cleared the hwy......THEY FLEW THE REMAINING 10 YARDS TO THE LOCAL MAN MADE POND!!! I'm like bloody hell, if you were gonna fly ......then flap your fat asses over the flippin road lmao

I always enjoy watching them fly - especially the way they soar and do aerobatics with barely any wing flapping.

North Carolina is the wintering grounds for large numbers of migratory birds. However, Canada geese have become permanent residents now and they are a Royal PITA. Once they decide to settle in a park, local pond or field, they totally nastify it. We used to stop at a very nice local park on our way to visit the in-laws until it was taken over by geese, and it was essentially unusable after they moved in -- goose crap everywhere. When they decide to cross a street, all of the traffic comes to a halt. It's really kind of humorous in a way and doesn't bother me so much when I am driving my car, but I don't like it when on my bike because geese can bite!

I tried this last night, it more or less worked. 3 different group of geese on the trail. None would have normally required stopping or more effort than altering course slightly. Two groups had begun to move, but sedately, at my approach, and both these groups stepped up the pace _a lot_ when I hissed at them. The third group (which was really one goose, the rest were off the trail) did not move at my approach, and did not move at my hiss. He just hissed back and ducked his head, without moving.

Perhaps I should try the other approach of making friends with them.

I can just see it now, riding your bike, arms out flapping with your hands off the handlebars, hissing and riding through slippery goose crap. Can you guess the outcome? :lol: I'd rather fall in mud.