If there is an animal you might see in every state in America, it’s Canada geese. Whether they are swimming in a river, hanging out in a parking lot, or chasing you down a street, Canada geese seem to appear out of thin air. They are noisy, large birds who don’t seem to have a rhyme or reason to their location. Given this, the question has to be asked, what is their deal?
After some brief research on these interesting animals via the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, I found that they actually do reside in every state in America including Alaska and even Hawai’i. They can even travel upwards of 1,500 miles per day, if the weather allows. This may be how they have made it to every state, although, still not exactly clear how they made it to Hawai’i.
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Their habitat preference includes rivers, ponds, lakes, grain fields, fresh and saltwater marshes. Canada geese utilize their aquatic habitats throughout their life cycle. During the breeding season, Canada geese can mainly be found near lakeshores or riverbanks, as they often establish nests there due to the availability of water that ensures sources of food. These bodies of water are also great at providing protection from predators.
As the seasons change, Canada geese embark on their migratory flights, utilizing rivers as aerial pathways and lakes as rest stops for replenishing energy reserves. These wondrous birds fly south for the winter in a “V” shape, as most birds do. They form this specific pattern in order to fly faster and more efficiently. While migrating, these geese communicate with honks and switch positions in order for the main goose flying in front to not get too tired.
As many people may know, and have personally experienced, Canada geese can tend to be a bit aggressive to other animals and people. While this usually is during mating and/or baby season when they have their younglings, these geese seem to also be combative during any time of the year. Anyone who owns dogs or walks around rivers and parks where these geese are have most likely had one chase or hiss at them.
I for one grew up at a pond with a lot of them and have had several encounters of running from these large birds, dragging my dog behind me. One time in particular, I was sitting on a bench with one of my neighborhood friends when a flock near the pond started getting a little ‘too close’. The situation in retrospect was hilarious, although in the moment, my friend and I, being around 12 years old, did not find it so funny. It must’ve been the fact that we had sandwiches with us, or that we were less than 20 yards away, or that the weather was a smidge under perfect, but these geese were relentless. Before we knew it, my friend and I were running down the path back to her house, throwing our sandwiches and anything we could find at the hissing birds. Running from the geese quite literally felt like running from bullies who were trying to steal our lunch. Needless to say, for those next couple of days we mainly stuck to the other side of the pond.
Aside from the lovely ‘nature’ of Canada geese, a more loving fact about them is they actually tend to mate for life. Once a goose finds a partner, they will stay with them usually until one of them passes. I actually found this fact to be very sweet, and I envision (an understatement, I hope) this might give a more heroic factor to the aggressiveness of these geese and why they might be so protective. Going along with being loving, geese are extremely protective of their younglings, and essentially keep them at their side at all times. Parent geese use rivers and lakes to teach their goslings how to swim, as well as how to catch their own food.
Overall, I would like to say that as interesting as Canada Geese are, I do still adore them and their fearless nature. While birds are normally flight animals, I would consider these geese to be more fight animals, and credit must be given in that area. They also are mainly aggressive in order to protect their young and mates, which is how the majority of animals in the wild behave with mothering instincts. Their migration patterns are fascinating, and their ability to live essentially anywhere is incredible.
The only personal advice that I could give if wanting to know how to coincide with these animals, is to admire their beauty and bravery from afar. These majestic birds are bold and fascinating, making sure that they are heard and respected in all communities, as they should be.
This is a guest blog written by Shelby Grund, the Digital Communications Intern, Winter 2023
14 responses to “Canada Geese: What’s their deal?”
We have a pair of geese settle down somewhere near our house to lay eggs. The male would patrol the area and chase off other geese, but never saw the female and her nest. We eventually saw three hatchlings swimming near the shore and then after a week or two they were gone.
I bought an air horn just to scare the geese out of my yard. They are hanging around my bird feeders. Is there any way to get rid of them and all their poop!
We have a mother who has been sitting on her eggs for a very long time. We’re afraid they’re not going to hatch and I was wondering how long she’ll stay with the nest if they don’t. The pair have been named Reginald & Tabitha Jean. My whole office building has been rooting for them but we feel it’s hopeless now. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
We found a gosling a few days ago. It got separated from its parents an started following my domestic geese. It is very loving and and is being feed, watered and warm. I’ve been putting it in a large feeding tube so it can swim a few times a day. I am, ofcourse, now it’s mommy. I am hoping at some time in the future it will fly away with others of it kind. For now I am enjoying raising it.
I discovered 3 eggs in my yard a couple of days ago and noticed the mother sitting on them early one morning. I just want to know (as a city girl) what happens now? I have to come n go. Once the babies are born, Is she going to attack me every time I walk by my yard? Should I call wild life 🤔
We have a family of two. Jack &Jill have 6 babies and Harry &Harriet have 5 babies a bit younger than Jacks family. I feed them once or sometimes twice a day. For me it takes a village to raise babies. But we are respectful of our spaces. We feed them on the other side of our pond. There is no hissing or fighting or chasing us. We co exist. We live in the country where dog poop and cat poop and geese poop and pig poop and donkey poop are a way of life. This is new for me but I thoroughly love watching them and respecting them. I haven’t heard them honk. They are very watchful of their surroundings. We could learn a lot from them!
This morning as I walking to work (in Spokane) I heard lots of honking which I thought was coming from flying geese above me. I was wrong. As I walked farther down the hill, I saw a goose atop of pile of lava rock. Across the street were two more geese atop another lava rock. They were deep in a back and forth conversation. Perhaps their GPS was off line and they were asking each other for directions back home, I wondered. I walked further on down the hill and eventually saw them fly from the lava rocks in the direction of the border.
It was a great way to start my day. Beautiful birds. .
I cannot stand these birds. Poop everywhere and they eat up your garden, hiss at my dog and chase kids. This is insane
They were here a long before us humans, so be kind, and respect their spaces as well.
I love these beautiful birds. We are lucky that we have water near us., and a landing field for them . Indeed they take over the area they relax on but there’s room for all. Their relatives were here first.
I love and respect them. They hang in my yard on a lake. In summer I just clean up after them. I adore the babies and they seem to trust me now. One female I think has followed me around and I feed her some cracked corn. She is very sweet and seems to know her name goosey girl
Great ! I do have the same experience….almost everyday I take my walk, and when I arrived in a open park these 2 Canada geese even when they are far away, they become all excited and quickly fly toward me and I feed them with pieces of bread in their mouth….
WHAT AMAZE ME, THEY RECOGNIZE ME AND IF SOMEONE ELSE IS WITH ME….they stay away and don’t come to me until that person left….then they come….
Very kind that you feed them but bread is not good for them to eat
We have geese here in NE Florida year round. One of my favorite sights is seeing them land on water. When I see a single goose not part of the larger gaggle, I wonder if they are ill, wounded, lost their mate or got ostracized. Just curious.