Coyotes Try To Keep Geese Away at Fruita’s Adobe Creek Golf Course

If you are not a golfer, it's possible you aren't fully aware of what happens on a typical golf course. 'Stuff' happens.

Normally, there are water features on a golf course in the form of a lake or pond. In golf lingo, we call it a hazard. These water hazards provide some diversity to the landscape of the course and also present additional challenges to golfers whose goal is to not hit their ball into the water. It's gonna be a stroke penalty and most likely a lost ball.

Where There's Water There Are Birds

We all know where there is smoke there's fire, but did you know where there's water there quite possibly will be birds? It's true and we see evidence of that oftentimes on the golf course. Geese in particular are drawn to golf course water features - it's their natural habitat. And, where there are geese - there's "stuff."

The Problem With Water Fowl and Golf

The problem with birds on the golf course, and specifically, geese, is the mess they leave behind. There are certain holes at Adobe Creek that are notorious for goose poop on the fairway and on the green. The goose droppings are especially problematic on the putting surface because they will definitely affect the path of the ball. That means before you putt you sometimes have to clear the path between your ball and the hole.

To combat the problem of geese on the golf course, many courses use various types of decoys to keep the birds away - and in some cases, the decoys are pretty convincing.

Coyote On the Course

Not long ago I was driving past Adobe Creek Golf Course in Fruita when I spotted what looked to be a coyote on Desert #4. I took a second look - shocked at what I was seeing - a coyote just standing there watching the golfers approach. It wasn't until the third or fourth look that I realized the coyote wasn't real.

First-Hand Experience

Fast forward a few days and I'm out on the golf course, Monument #7, I believe, when I spot another coyote. Once again, I did a double-take, but because of my previous experience, I quickly realized what my eyes were seeing.

It Looks So Real

From a distance, it looks like a real coyote. It's not until you get a little closer that you realize the very realistic image is only a decoy.

Taking a Closer Look

The closer you get, you can see the rods stuck in the ground that hold the decoy upright.

It Sure Fooled Me

Up close you can see the coyote image and it's amazing how realistic it looks. Will it fool a goose? I don't know about that, but, it sure fooled me.