It’s common for Canada geese to be considered a nuisance due to their loud honking, messy droppings, and sometimes aggressive behavior. This species can also be hazardous to your health. Geese can carry diseases that can spread to you, your family, and your pets, putting everyone’s health at risk. Here’s what to know about diseases associated with geese and how you can keep yourself and your loved ones safe.
What Diseases Can a Canada Goose Carry?
Canada geese and other species of waterfowl can carry and spread disease, viruses, bacteria, and parasites. The most common include salmonella, e. coli, and cryptosporidium. Avian influenza is also common disease for waterfowl species like geese. Disease caused by Canada geese usually spreads through contact with their feces. Although research shows it’s not common for geese to cause illness in humans or be a large cause of mortality in humans, it’s still possible, so it’s best to act with care when near these birds and other waterfowl.
Salmonella
Salmonella is bacteria that can pass from birds to humans via feces. If you accidentally touch goose poop and then touch your face, you could become sick. Salmonella can cause symptoms like fever, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. Most people don’t need specific treatment for salmonella and recover on their own within a few days.
E. Coli
Escherichia coli (E. coli) is bacteria that is spread via contaminated food or water. People can also become infected if they ingest goose poop, so it’s important to keep young children away from it. Be extra aware of goose feces during the summer, as E. coli is more prevalent when it’s warm outside. If you become infected with E. coli, you may experience symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea. More severe cases may cause gastroenteritis, urinary tract infections, and other health problems.
Cryptosporidium
Cryptosporidium is a parasite that can be transmitted from birds to humans, typically via water that’s contaminated with goose poop. If you go for a swim in a nearby pond, for example, and that water contains geese feces with parasites, it could make you sick. The same can happen if you drink water contaminated with goose poop. Cryptosporidium can cause symptoms like diarrhea and abdominal pain.
Other Viruses, Bacteria, and Parasites
Feces from geese may contain a variety of other bacteria, such as listeria and pasteurella multocida, and parasites, such as giardia and toxoplasmosis. Waterfowl diseases from parasites can occur if you drink water contaminated with goose poop, and these diseases can cause diarrhea and infection.
Canada geese are also among the species of bird that can become sick with avian influenza. A virus, avian influenza poses health concerns to humans, poultry, and livestock when they are in direct contact with infected birds.
This is still not a complete list of the diseases associated with Canada geese. That’s why it’s best to stay away from goose poop and avoid swimming in water that may be contaminated.
How Do Geese Spread Diseases?
Disease is spread from birds to humans mainly through goose poop. For example, if you were to touch goose poop and then touch your eyes, nose, or mouth, you could become sick. It’s also important to make sure kids and pets don’t touch or consume goose poop, as they can be affected by disease as well. Geese can also spread disease by contaminating water with their poop. If you swim in contaminated water or drink contaminated water, you could become sick.
Additionally, geese can spread bacteria through bites and nasal discharge. If you see geese near a nest, don’t get too close, as they may become aggressive towards you in an attempt to protect an egg or young goslings.
How to Prevent the Spread of Disease from Birds
Diseases from waterfowl are a real risk. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to prevent the spread of disease and keep humans and pets healthy. In particular, it’s helpful to stay away from birds and their poop, wash your hands and clothes, and keep geese off of your property.
Don’t Get Too Close
Staying away from wild birds like geese is a good idea, especially if you’re worried about disease and infection from waterfowl. This helps prevent bites from territorial birds. If you have kids, make sure they don’t ingest goose poop or touch it and then touch their faces. If you have pets, don’t let them get close to geese, and make sure they don’t eat goose poop. Have clean water handy to drink, and stay out of ponds.
Wash Your Hands and Clothes
After spending time in an area with a flock of geese or waterfowl, be sure to take off your shoes before entering your home. Clean your pet’s paws before they walk inside, too. This helps prevent goose poop from being carried into your home and making people sick. Additionally, wash your hands and avoid touching your face before your hands are clean, and wash your clothes after spending time around waterfowl.
Keep Canada Geese Off Your Property
A great way to avoid geese diseases is to keep geese off your property. There are a variety of waterfowl control methods you can try. You can spray goose repellent onto the grass. This liquid irritates the stomachs of geese when they eat the grass, so the birds decide they’ll eat somewhere else next time. If you have a pond on your property, place wire over it to form a grid. The wire should create 12-inch squares about 8 inches above the water, which prevents geese from accessing the pond but won’t stop a duck. You can also try scaring geese away by yelling at them or shaking a noisemaker. Additionally, you can place decoys in the yard that look like a species of animal that geese are afraid of. Asking residents to not feed the geese may also help.
The most effective way to keep geese away is to hire a professional goose control company like Goose Masters. Our border collies chase this avian species off your property. The dogs never catch or hurt the geese; rather, the geese feel your property is not safe and they decide to live somewhere else.
Contact Goose Masters
When you need to control the geese on your property, contact Goose Masters. Our professional handlers and highly trained dogs are ready to help you keep geese away, so you don’t have to worry so much about disease and infection from waterfowl. To learn more or schedule a demo, contact us at 336-653-4100.
0 Comments