Has Anyone Ever Had Canadian Geese Eat Their Tomato Plants?

15 years ago

Ok, I had all my lettuces, chard, radishes, carrots, etc in the garden all ready. I came home from a Mother's Day outing and my Garden was totally gone! well, except the pumpkin plants. I did not have my tomatoes and peppers in the ground yet. I live on a lake, and Last year, I had no problem with the geese, yet I only had tomatoes, peppers, pumpkins, sqash, and herbs planted, no leafy greens like this year. So I am wondering if anyone has seen them eat a tomato plant? I am thinking not, because they left them alone last year and it seems like they only like the leafy edible stuff, and that is why they did not eat the pumpkin plants. I have not wanted to take a chance, So I have been holding off putting my tomatoes in the ground, and I usually have them in by now. But I cannot wait forever! Any suggestions? Thanks! Christy

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Comments (6)

hamiltongardener
15 years ago
Never heard of it. I looked up their diet and it says aquatic plants, insects, crustaceans and occasionally small fish.

It seems unlikely, but maybe if they were REALLY hungry? Is there a problem with that lake? ie) plant and animal life dying due to pollution or something of that nature?
bonechickchris
Original Author
15 years ago
Hello Hamiltongardener, Thank you for taking the time to look up info for me! The lake is pretty clean and is always being tested. It is pretty normal for the geese to eat other than it's aquatic foods. People with grass have avery hard time here because they love to eat grass. That is why they usually hang around golf courses.
I do not have grass, so I never really had them coming up on my yard before except to maybe cross my yard to get to someone elses grass. BUt I have been here for 2 gardening seasons now and they never bothered the garden, but I only had my tomatoes,peppers,pumpkins,squash and herbs. Like I said, the seem to like all the leafy veggies, because when this happened this year, they left the pumpkins alone. So I was hoping that they would not like the tomato plants, also because they have a strong oder to them. I thought I heard once that tomato plant leaves were posionous to some animals? I can always give in and get a goose repellent to make a barrier, but I really would like to avoid that so not to pollute my lake. So confused! Christy
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triple_b
15 years ago
Canada Geese especially need watching at this time of year as they are sitting on eggs. They will defend their nests and can break your arm with their powerful wings.

From: One who nearly got her a** kicked a few years ago by a Canada Goose.
bonechickchris
Original Author
15 years ago
Well, The ones who are attacking are 2 sets of parents plus both of their new born flocks (just starting to loose their yellow feathers)So it is 4 adults and about 11 goselings (sp?)
Usually my beagle keeps them away but not lately. I put 2 tomato plants that were the runts of what seeds I planted out as testers to see if they will eat them. If they do not in a few days, I guess it would be safe to assume that they will leave what I plant alone? Christy
dave1mn2
15 years ago
Pest level populations of Canadian Geese can be delt with but I'd rec contacting your local game officials to do so.

Doing things outside of the Federal Migratory bird regs could get expensive.

I know of a local lake association that after an inspection, was given wooden eggs to replace the real ones with and special permits to reduce the population.

They can get to be way to many, make a terrible mess and as mentioned, be very aggressive at times.
holly-2006
15 years ago
I don't know if this would be a feasible option for you, not knowing the size of your property, but I read that planting shrubs along your property line adjacent to the lake should keep them out.

Because my property is so small and I live beside a catch pond, I just went out and bought those little plastic windmill thingies for kids at the dollar store and placed them in the garden out front. No more geese. Now it's just the neighborhood kids ripping them off that I have to worry about...

As others have mentioned, be very careful around these birds. They are terribly aggressive this time of year and would think nothing of planting a beak into your forehead.

Has Anyone Ever Had Canadian Geese Eat Their Tomato Plants?

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hamiltongardener

bonechickchris
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Has Anyone Ever Had Canadian Geese Eat Their Tomato Plants?

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hamiltongardener

bonechickchrisOriginal Author

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