It’s on the fairways, around the greens, along the cart paths, and sometimes even caked onto your pull cart wheels like you drove through a pasture. What used to be a seasonal nuisance has become a nearly year-round problem, and many golfers are wondering why geese are staying longer, why it’s getting worse, and what — if anything — can be done about it.
But one thing nobody expects — and everyone notices — is this:
Goose poop is everywhere.
For a long time, this was mostly a spring problem.
Now? It’s a fall, winter, and spring problem.
And the reason is simple:
Geese aren’t leaving anymore.
7 minutes read time: Why Goose Poop Is Everywhere on Golf Courses (and What Golfers Can Do)
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Traditionally, Canada geese migrated south for the winter.
Cold weather froze their food and water sources, forcing them to move.
But over the last decade, that pattern has changed.
Winters in much of North America are:
That means:
So instead of flying south, many geese now stay year-round — especially on golf courses.
To a goose, a golf course in winter is still:
It’s still perfect.
They have no reason to leave.
Warmer winters are one of the biggest reasons geese have shifted from “seasonal visitors” to “permanent residents” on golf courses.
Golf courses unintentionally provide everything geese want:
It’s not that geese love golf.
It’s that golf courses accidentally look like the perfect version of their natural habitat.
Because winters are warmer, geese no longer go into true survival mode.
They continue feeding almost normally through late fall and winter.
And geese digest quickly.
A single goose can poop every 20–30 minutes.
That doesn’t slow down much in mild winters.
So instead of three months of relief, golf courses now get:
Nine to ten months of geese.
When winters were cold, grass went dormant and frozen.
Now, in many regions:
To geese, this is still a buffet.
Because conditions are milder, geese start nesting earlier in late winter.
Once nesting begins:
Which means the spring “invasion” now starts in February instead of April.
The goose season has effectively stretched from a few months into most of the year — and golf courses are on the front line of that shift.
What Goose Poop Actually Equals
Let’s put some reality behind the mess.
Each goose produces up to two pounds of droppings per day.
A flock of 40 geese produces:
80 pounds of poop every single day.
That’s not fertilizer.
That’s a biological dump.
Goose poop is high in nitrogen.
Golf courses are already fertilized.
Too much nitrogen causes:
So goose poop doesn’t help the course.
It overwhelms it.
Goose poop equals:
Goose poop is not “natural fertilizer” — it’s uncontrolled nutrient overload that damages turf and water quality.
Pull carts are the perfect collectors:
Each rotation picks up more. It sticks. It dries. It builds.
Your wheels become rolling compost rollers.
Geese are federally protected migratory birds.
That means:
Courses use:
But geese adapt quickly.
And none of these are fast or perfect.
The result is simple:
More geese.
Staying longer.
In more places.
Late December golf in Idaho — when swans, geese, and ducks rule the course.
Why Goose Poop Is Everywhere on Golf Courses (and What Golfers Can Do)
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FAQ: Goose Poop Is Everywhere
Is goose poop harmful to humans?
It can carry bacteria like E. coli and Giardia. It’s not highly dangerous, but it’s not sanitary.
Is goose poop good fertilizer?
No. It’s uncontrolled nitrogen and damages turf balance.
Why don’t courses scare geese away?
They try. But geese adapt quickly and laws limit removal.
Does feeding geese make it worse?
Yes. Feeding encourages geese to stay and increases population growth.
Why do geese prefer golf courses?
Safety, grass quality, visibility, and water access.
🟩 Senior Insight
A complete shoe cleaning kit that includes brush, cloth, and cleaner solution is the most effective way to remove tough organic soils like goose droppings without damaging your golf shoe materials — especially if you wear them a lot over wet or messy courses.
1. Don’t feed them — ever.
This is the single biggest factor golfers control. Feeding geese teaches them that golf courses equal food, which encourages them to stay, reproduce, and bring friends.
Even tossing bread “just once” trains geese to linger.
2. Keep your distance — especially in nesting season.
In late winter and spring, geese become territorial and aggressive. Give them space and don’t challenge or chase them.
It’s safer for you and less stressful for the birds.
3. Clean your equipment regularly.
Rinse your shoes, push cart wheels, and clubs after rounds during goose season. This reduces bacteria exposure and keeps you from spreading droppings around the course.
(Pro tip: a cheap garden hose by the garage beats tracking it inside.)
Clean Kit for Golf Shoes and Accessories – 6-item Kit: No Rinse Foaming Cleaner, Horsehair scrub brush – Microfiber cloth – Cedar wood deodorizing inserts and more.
4. Don’t complain — report.
If goose problems are severe, tell the pro shop or superintendent. They can’t fix what they don’t know about, and consistent reports help justify wildlife management programs.
5. Respect deterrents when you see them.
If you notice dogs, flags, fencing, lasers, or habitat changes — that’s the course trying to manage geese legally. Don’t interfere with those systems.
They only work if golfers let them.
6. Avoid “helpful” behavior that makes it worse.
Feeding geese, approaching nests for photos, shooing geese aggressively, or letting kids chase them all increase stress and reinforce bad patterns.
Calm distance works better than drama.
Golfers can’t remove geese — but we can stop encouraging them. The fewer positive interactions geese have with people, the less attached they become to golf courses.
Geese are doing what nature taught them.
Golf courses accidentally became perfect for them.
The best thing golfers can do is not make that relationship stronger.
No feeding. No drama. No encouragement.
Just play your round, clean your gear, and let the course manage the rest.
The goose problem isn’t really about geese.
It’s about change.
Cycle climate changes.
Land use change.
Wildlife protection change.
Suburban development change.
All of it collided with golf courses — and the result is a species that found the perfect place to live… and no longer leaves.
So when you see goose poop all over the course in December or February, you’re not just seeing a mess.
You’re seeing a system that shifted.
And unfortunately, that shift smells terrible.
That’s what goose poop equals.
Not just droppings.
Imbalance.
And one very dirty pull cart.
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