Do Geese Keep Foxes Away? (Dangerous!)
Do geese keep foxes away?
No! Geese are not a good choice to keep foxes away, as they are slow and do not have the desired reaction to scare away foxes. They would rather just get eaten!
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Do Foxes Attack Geese?
Foxes are considered predators of goslings and they will attack a goose flock if they can get close enough. They have been known to attack a gander or goose while it is sitting on a nest.
In the spring, birds like geese can seem like easy prey to a fox. They are conspicuous and easy to approach when they are on the ground. This can be a death sentence for a goose. Foxes will attack geese, and if they bite, they may not stop until the bird stops moving. Foxes will also hunt in packs when hunting geese.
Foxes are known to be attracted to the sounds of goslings and are often seen near nests with goslings present. They may even attempt to steal the goslings from their nests.
When do Foxes Attack Geese?
Foxes are most likely to attack when there is no one around and they can get close enough to the geese before being detected. If you hear something like that, be sure that your flock is safe. If you have dogs around the flock, make sure that all of them are close and ready for an attack.
However, does this happen very often? Sometimes, but relatively rarely.
What Animals Prey On Geese?
There are a lot of predators out there that can prey on geese. From predators that are scared by the flock to larger adult geese who are motivated to protect their goslings and themselves, there is a very long list of animals that could potentially prey on a goose flock.
Ducks, and other waterfowl can also pose a threat because they usually don’t like other birds around and will do what it takes to get rid of them if they find them annoying or threatening. It’s important for you not just the learn about predators of geese but also learn how to keep them safe from harm so you know what precautions you really need to take.
Raccoon – A raccoon is a very cunning animal that can be found in most areas. Raccoons are smart, stealthy and very determined so you’ll likely find them at the top of any predator list simply because they are so difficult to outwit. The best thing you can do to protect your geese from raccoons is to make sure their enclosure is tight, solid and high enough that they can’t climb over it. While this won’t stop a smart raccoon who is determined enough, it will make it more difficult for them and increase the chances of your flock staying safe from their advances.
Dog – Dogs are another predator that is not too concerned with taking on goslings if they’re hungry enough and there are no other viable food sources around. Dogs are omnivores so they will eat both meat and plants (which would make them omnivores in the technical sense), but they’ll eat whatever the easiest source of meal is available to them unless it’s poisonous to them which some goose pens may be for some dogs. Also, domesticated dogs are probably also more likely to stay away from meat than most wild predators if given a choice because eating furred/feathered animals could lead to health issues in humans. So although your dog may be interested in goose eggs or goslings running around, you can use fences to keep him out of harm’s way until he loses interest altogether.
Owl – Owls have probably eaten their fair share of goose eggs and goslings, but they are not likely to cause many casualties in an established pen unless they’re really hungry or desperate. Most owls are nocturnal hunters and would rather search for the easy meals – like field mice and insects. They might also be scared away by fences around the pen if they get too close while hunting at night.
How To Keep Foxes Away From Garden
As we saw using geese to deter foxes might not be the smartest idea. If you have a problem with this predator species, then you have to have actual protection in place. Fortunately, there are a lot of options for keeping foxes away from your garden.
Fencing
You can make your own fence to keep foxes away from the garden. There are several designs available on the internet and in books, depending on what type of material you have access to. Some of these fences would be difficult for humans but are easy for foxes so be careful what you use! A couple of examples:
If a wooded area is nearby, consider locating a wire fence in that location and secure it with stakes exposed above the ground. This may not be necessary in areas where there is snow cover during winter months because foxes will not even cross over areas that are covered in snow when they do not have to.
Another idea is an electric wire fence or netting around the garden area (wired with an electrical current running through it or bird netting with electrical insulators). Another option would be chicken wire fencing or other sturdy fencing with barbed wire along the top edge to prevent climbing.
Barriers
In addition to the fencing, you can also add some barriers to keep foxes out of your vegetable garden. These barriers can be as fancy as you want, however they are typically constructed from chicken wire fencing with barbed wire along the top edges. It is extremely important that these barriers are installed correctly so as not to injure the foxes should they make it through the barrier.
The bottom portion should be no more than 2 feet above ground level and a minimum of 4-5 feet wide. Other ideas include creating a raceway, which is just a line of objects placed across a ditch or fence line in an X pattern (bottom left image). You can do this with small rocks or straw by placing them on the ground below a wooden grid or similar method (bottom right image).
This will allow water to soak into the ground where it can easily flow away from your garden, which will slow down any roots being damaged. Just remember that if you are using chicken wire, this barrier needs to surround all sides of your vegetable garden and is best located on higher ground, away from ditches and streams if possible!
An alternative would be to line the ditch/drainage field with plastic sheeting and place stepping stones across it at regular intervals in order for water to run away more easily. Another idea is culvert pipes (similar pipes used for roads), placed flat against a wall so there are no holes in them that water could escape through!
Guard Animals
Guard dogs are a great way to protect your garden from foxes and other animals that may try to get into your veg patch. Providing you have the space, all you have to do is get a dog, or dogs, and set it up to look after your garden.
