Facts About The Canada Goose

Once the female has accepted the gander they begin to build a relationship which will last a lifetime. If another suitor approaches the female Canada Goose, more then likely both geese will drive the other male away.
 

During the fall migration, if a goose is shot down by a hunter the mate will circle back to help the partner. Risking death for themselves in order to find their mate.

Once the wounded partner is found, the other goose will remain with them until they are healed.

If the partner cannot find their mate they will continue searching. The goose will remain in the area even enduring the hardship of winter to continue the search.
 
 

The geese will look for an isolated spot for their nesting site. Nests are usually build on a remote island or on top of a beaver or muskrat's dwelling. When a secluded spot is selected it is much easier for the parents to protect their young.

After each egg arrives the female will pluck feathers from her breast and lay them around the egg. A bare spot will appear on her breast as she continues plucking her feathers to place around the eggs. This spot is refereed to as the incubation patch.

The females body heat is transferred to the eggs when she is sitting on them. She will turn the eggs periodically to maintain
an even temperature distribution.

The down feathers are placed under, around and on top of the eggs. By placing the feathers this way they are able to maintain a temperature of 100.4 degrees F to 101.3 degrees F. The feathers have the ability to lock in heat which enables the parents to leave the nest for a short period.

To avoid being discovered the Canada Goose will camouflage herself against her nest. She will sit on top of her eggs and stretch her neck out until it hugs the ground and there she will remain completely motionless.
 

The adult Canada Goose has very few natural enemies. But, they need to be on constant alert to predators that endanger their goslings.

The two predators they fear the most are the raccoon and fox.

Constant vigilance needs to be kept for the possible destruction of eggs from winged enemies.

The raven enjoys feasting on unhatched eggs and the awkward goslings are easy prey for the fox.

When the young goslings are in the water learning to swim they can easily be attacked by large fish or snapping turtles.

The time of greatest villenage for the parent geese will be during incubation and continue until the goslings are a few weeks old.

One day after hatching, the goslings will go into the water. The gander will go first to the water to prepare the way. He will make loud squawking noises and wildly flap his wings in the water.

This technique is used to frighten the snapping turtles, bullfrogs and large fish.

The Canada Goose has been known to sit on infertile eggs for 5 months pass their hatching time.

A number of years ago, in an Alaskan breeding ground for Canada Geese, a late spring snowstorm arrived. The snow fall reached a height of 3 feet.

When the snow melted a very sad picture was seen. The geese were still sitting on their nest of eggs. They died protecting their eggs.