Geese on MUTs
05-20-05, 12:52 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Indianapolis, IN (formerly Regina, Saskatchewan)
Posts: 116
Bikes: Tommaso Capri (upgraded), Fuji Ace, and Schwinn Racer AL
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Geese on MUTs
On the MUTs around the city, I encounter alot of geese, usually blocking the entire trail. I know geese can be very aggresive, especially when there are baby geese present. What is the best (and safest) way to deal with this issue? Should I stop and let them waddle by, or should I just ride around/through the pack and hope they don't attack me?
05-20-05, 01:04 PM
#2
contrarian
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: CO Springs
Posts: 2,848
Bikes: 80's ross road bike/commuter, 80's team miyata, 90's haro mtb xtracycle conversion, koga mitaya world traveler
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Good question. Usually I slow down a bit and see if they get out of the way. They usually don't seem topo much in a hurry, so I'd avoid actually stopping for them. Maybe you should make some noise, as well.
__________________
Higher ground for the apocalypse!
Higher ground for the apocalypse!
05-20-05, 01:23 PM
#3
Compulsive Upgrader
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Posts: 603
Bikes: 2002 Kona Deluxe (road), 2001 Cove Stiffee (mtb)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Be careful about startling them, the Canadian Geese we get up here can be pretty territorial. And they poop all over the path in some spots...I would slow down and let them waddle out of the way. That's what I do.
__________________
"No drug, not even alcohol, causes the fundamental ills of society. If we're looking for the source of our troubles, we shouldn't test people for drugs. We should test them for stupidity, ignorance, greed, and love of power." -P.J. O'Rourke
"No drug, not even alcohol, causes the fundamental ills of society. If we're looking for the source of our troubles, we shouldn't test people for drugs. We should test them for stupidity, ignorance, greed, and love of power." -P.J. O'Rourke
05-20-05, 01:37 PM
#4
Minneapolis
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Just under Minneapolis
Posts: 873
Bikes: 1998 Stumpjumper Pro, SE Draft, 1984 Bianchi ATB, 1980? Raleigh Comp GS, Civia Loring
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Originally Posted by cyclingshane73
Be careful about startling them, the Canadian Geese we get up here can be pretty territorial.
Just give them a little respect and slow down, but HISS as loud as you can, like a pissed off cat or something. That'll get them to move.
05-20-05, 02:42 PM
#5
Senior Member
I can't do this on my recumbent, but on an upright it works better (but not perfectly.) If you just ride at them, they don't seem to know how to treat you , since they 'know' that humans don't usually attack them. So use 'goose body language.' Ride no-handed, spread your arms wide and flap them a little bit. It also helps to make some gruff verbal noise, like, "outta my way!" The outstretched 'wings' are a territorial challenge, and most of them will yield to your superior size.
05-20-05, 03:11 PM
#6
semifreddo amartuerer
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Northern CA
Posts: 4,599
Bikes: several
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Yeah, one of the trails I ride is heavy with geese right now. I usually just slow down and weave through them. Try not to get in between mama goose and goslings (though even at slow speed you can get past before they have much time to react). Worst case, I just go off the trail, into the grass and around them, then get back on, further on down the trail.
I have a harder time with goose poop, but both of that's probably fodder for another thread
I have a harder time with goose poop, but both of that's probably fodder for another thread
05-20-05, 03:13 PM
#7
contrarian
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: CO Springs
Posts: 2,848
Bikes: 80's ross road bike/commuter, 80's team miyata, 90's haro mtb xtracycle conversion, koga mitaya world traveler
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
It's true that they can get confused when they see you. Hissing is a great aidea, as it wing flapping. They do need to be communicated to in goose-language.
__________________
Higher ground for the apocalypse!
Higher ground for the apocalypse!
05-20-05, 03:15 PM
#8
Fritz M
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: California
Posts: 959
Bikes: Trek, Spesh, GT, Centurion
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I ride through em, even thick packs or herds or whatever you call groups of geese on the ground. When I'm on foot the geese can be fairly aggressive, but when I'm on bike they move out of the way just fine. The goslings are really cute right now.
RFM
RFM
05-20-05, 07:52 PM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Northern Ontario
Posts: 3,659
Bikes: Colnago Master XL, Bianchi Via Nirone 7, Marinoni Fango
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by colinm
What are they going to do, tie your shoelaces together?
Just give them a little respect and slow down, but HISS as loud as you can, like a pissed off cat or something. That'll get them to move.
Just give them a little respect and slow down, but HISS as loud as you can, like a pissed off cat or something. That'll get them to move.
05-20-05, 08:10 PM
#10
Sprockette
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Canada
Posts: 5,503
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Mostly we see ducks around here, as a lot of the paths run near water. Sometimes I see geese, but they usually just stop here on the way up north and don't set up their nests around here. The ducks are nesting now- it's a good idea to keep away from the nests. A friend of mine got chased once by a daddy duck! They can get pretty aggressive too, they run after you quacking and flapping. Sometimes though you have to stop while a big herd of ducks cross the bike path.
__________________
You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. That's great...if you want to attract vermin.
You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. That's great...if you want to attract vermin.
05-20-05, 09:07 PM
#11
52-week commuter
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 1,929
Bikes: Redline Conquest, Cannonday, Specialized, RANS
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I find that a ding-ding bell gets them moving along.
05-22-05, 10:28 AM
#12
12 2005 DC Finishes
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Folsom, Ca
Posts: 455
Bikes: 1998 Cannondale V1000, 2001 Specialized Sirrus Pro, 2004 De Rosa King
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I pack a Beretta 12 guage over/under for personal protection when I ride, works well with geese also...
05-22-05, 02:16 PM
#13
Sprockette
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Canada
Posts: 5,503
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
gee, why stop there... why not just drop napalm on them, LOL.
__________________
You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. That's great...if you want to attract vermin.
You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. That's great...if you want to attract vermin.
05-23-05, 03:21 AM
#15
Ride the Road
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Posts: 4,059
Bikes: Surly Cross-Check; hard tail MTB
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
2 Posts
About a year ago, a passed a guy in full bike gear walking his road bike on a MUT. His back tire was not turning, he was walking stiffly, and he had a few patches of road rash. I asked if I could help. With pain in his voice, he said, "No. Geese."
I would not ride through a pack hoping it would split up, but I might slowly weave my way through if there was enough space. But if their are baby geese, all bets are off. Those creatures are VERY aggressive when it comes to their young.
I would not ride through a pack hoping it would split up, but I might slowly weave my way through if there was enough space. But if their are baby geese, all bets are off. Those creatures are VERY aggressive when it comes to their young.
05-23-05, 10:11 AM
#16
Sophomoric Member
Geese like water and they like grass. That's why they are thick as thieves along MUPs (and golf courses). As everyone knows, they are protecting their offspring, not their territory. They are good parents and have their youngsters well trained and well herded. I slow down and approach them calmly and slowly, in a friendly manner. They quickly realize that I'm not trying to eat their babies so they get out of the way. Unlike human parents on the trails who seem to have no control over their offspring.
05-23-05, 12:59 PM
#17
Mad bike riding scientist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 23,590
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, an orange one and a few titanium ones
Mentioned: 119 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3897 Post(s)
Liked 1,329 Times
in
820 Posts
Originally Posted by cyclingshane73
Be careful about startling them, the Canadian Geese we get up here can be pretty territorial. And they poop all over the path in some spots...I would slow down and let them waddle out of the way. That's what I do.
__________________
Stuart Black
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Days of Wineless Roads. Bed and Breakfasting along the KATY
Twisting Down the Alley. Misadventures in tornado alley.
Stuart Black
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Days of Wineless Roads. Bed and Breakfasting along the KATY
Twisting Down the Alley. Misadventures in tornado alley.
05-23-05, 03:12 PM
#18
Sprockette
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Canada
Posts: 5,503
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Little baby ducks and geese are so cute, they're like little puffballs. It's worth it if you can get a glimpse of them. It's so hard to resist scooping one of them up!
__________________
You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. That's great...if you want to attract vermin.
You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. That's great...if you want to attract vermin.
05-24-05, 05:11 PM
#20
Ride the Road
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Posts: 4,059
Bikes: Surly Cross-Check; hard tail MTB
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
2 Posts
No, hiss at them like they do when they're aggressive. It seems to work sometimes.
05-25-05, 07:10 AM
#23
totally louche
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: A land that time forgot
Posts: 18,025
Bikes: the ever shifting stable loaded with comfortable road bikes and city and winter bikes
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
I almost ran into a grizzly bear once, geese are no problem. Hissing or quacking like an angry goose on the move usually works (on other geese, not grizzlies!)
