Goose Facts

The name "Canada geese" is misleading. The subspecies of Canada geese (Branta canadensis maxima) that live in Missouri year-round are resident geese, descendants of geese living in the Midwest for centuries! They nested on the bluffs and lived in the riversʼ wetlands, and even Lewis and Clark recorded their presence along the Missouri River. During winter months their northern smaller relatives migrate to Missouri, seeking open water and food and return north in the spring.

As the natural wetland habitat of geese has been reduced and suburbs have expanded, geese have moved to the suburbs' ideal living conditions. Geese seek:

• Food source: Mowed grass creates a goose buffet!

• Body of water: Man-made lakes are most inviting, providing safety and a place to raise offspring.

• Sense of safety: Geese prefer large open areas with a 360-degree view of potential predators. Many lakes have no tall vegetation surrounding them and provide geese a clear line of sight to safety in the lake.

Canada geese are just one of the species we hunted to near-extinction, yet stopped short of completely wiping out. By 1960, they were truly endangered and repopulation efforts began. They are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which means they cannot be hunted outside of designated seasons and without the permission of state wildlife agencies. (In our state that is the MO Department of Conservation.) While the national program to save the Canada goose from extinction may have been prompted in part by a sincere desire to save a dying species, the real impetus was to provide a flourishing population of game birds for hunters.

As with most (if not all) human-animal conflicts, the cause of any problems associated with urban geese populations falls squarely in our laps. Their numbers increased due to our own repopulation program, and our ill-conceived green space design. (Detailed below.) We invited Canada geese into our parks, golf courses, office commons, and condominium grounds by offering the ideal living environment, and by feeding them. People used to love to sit and watch the geese with their little goslings...until we tired of their natural behaviors.

1) Geese defecate (as do all animals, including humans), and people don't like having to watch their step.

2) Geese defend their homes and their young (as do all animals, including humans), and people resent being approached by an angry gander.

3) Geese occasionally strike aircraft while flying and have become the scapegoat for this danger. The trouble with blaming Canada geese for these strikes is that evidence has shown they are not the only "culprits." Gulls, turkey vultures, eagles, starlings, owls, pigeons, crows, and a dozen other bird species have been proven to have collided with planes mid-air. Is the answer to exterminate all of these birds?

There are three ways to curb goose populations in unwanted areas. First and foremost is designing green spaces with wildlife in mind. If your goal is to prevent the nesting and egg-laying of Canada geese, the last thing you want to do is clear out all the native growth from the area and put a pond smack-dab in the middle. This is like Disneyland to a goose. Waterfowl are prey animals and need to be able to see when a predator is approaching; therefore, a body of water with an unobstructed view of the surroundings is ideal for their purposes. Designers should take advantage of native grasses, shrubs, and other plants to produce a variety of levels and dimensions. This would not only discourage geese, it would also result in a more appealing landscape for humans.

The second, more hands-on, way of population control is egg addling – replacement or oiling. These methods involve preventing already laid eggs from hatching, and the choice between replacing and oiling is individual preference. 

Working in tandem with egg addling is deterring geese from nesting/renesting at a site. This can involve specially trained dogs, mechanical remote-control devices, and frequently moved effigies. The best program involves all three of these elements.

Discouraging future nesting and the above-mentioned egg replacement/oiling are the only methods that do actually work. When we encounter a problem with wildlife, too often our knee-jerk reaction is to kill the offending animals. Not only is this quick-fix unethical, it is a shortsighted solution, as well. Rounding up for slaughter, trapping, poisoning, shooting, and other lethal wildlife control practices only rid an area of that one flock or group of animals. Without addressing what conditions attracted the animals to that location in the first place, there is no reason to believe another population will not move in once the present residents are gone. And, this is, in fact, what occurs. It makes far more sense to critically look at what can be done to prevent habitation. This is where the use of dogs and the overall design of the environment come into play.

Definitely. Each season presents a different phase in the life of a goose. We humans have varying activities and plans, based on time of the year and weather. So, too, geese have seasonal behavior, albeit more rigid than ours. This predictability makes curbing population more manageable. 

Yes! Geese are unique and fascinating animals. They are extremely family-oriented, exhibiting high levels of commitment to their mates. These birds mate for life and will mourn when one of the pair dies. This video shows the lengths to which one goose "wife" went in order to be with her injured "husband." (It's a happy ending!)