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11:53 p.m. - 2005-11-09
Goo Poo *New Pic* 3/24/06
Haloo Critterfarians!

I hope you're all well. Unfortunately I have no critter sightings to report in the last 24 hours! So here is the promised writeup regarding a creature so characteristic of autumn in MN: The Canada Goose!

Branta canadensis consists of eleven subspecies. The largest is called the giant Canada goose, with a wingspan of six feet and weighing up to 24 lbs. I think this is the species we see most often on the Great Plains. Until the 1960's, these geese were considered extinct. Some small populations were found and have now increased to the numbers we know today.

Weighing two to four lbs, the "cackling goose" is the smallest subspecies of Branta canadensis.

Canada geese originated in the northern regions of North America, but have been introduced to Britain and Scandinavia. Fewer geese are migrating south, due to higher temperatures and favorable living conditions in suburban areas. More on that later.

These waterfowl are romantic because they mate for life. Geese build big nests, where the female incubates two to nine eggs while the male (gander) guards her. After around 30 days the goslings hatch!

Pause here for springtime fuzzycuteness!gosling

Goose parents usually lead the goslings to water only one day after they hatch. The babies eventually can swim up to 30 to 40 feet underwater, in order to find plant foods and grow large enough to migrate in the fall.

After the babies are hatched, the female begins another change; she joins her mate in the molting process he's already started. For five weeks the geese are flightless as their flying feathers regenerate. Just in time for the goslings to fledge, the parents finish this renewal and can help teach the goslings to fly.

Families stick together while migrating as well. Geese winter in the southern US and even as far south as Mexico.

minnesota14.JPG

As you know, geese are very vocal, not only flying up high in their V formations, but also on the ground. Geese like to hiss at people, including R and I. This weekend BE was accosted by one outside of our NJ hotel. She said it threatened her with a karate pose, but I couldn't find any information on that type of thing! Most likely the goose was trying to spread its wings a little to look larger and more imposing!

Geese are becoming quite common in urban areas, making them more present than ducks and other, smaller waterfowl. There are several reasons geese like life on the urban tip.

First, Canada gees aren't overly bothered by humans. There aren't many predators in urban areas (other than dogs) and people like to feed the geese as well! Geese enjoy eating grass, and there are often fields of grain located not too far from cities. Parks, golf courses and other open areas often boast small lakes and resevoirs, making them attractive to honkers. When a goose has a successful winter somewhere, say in the Richfield park, she'll remember it and bring her brood back the next year. You can see why goose populations have skyrocketed in recent years, especially where there are plenty of people to see them.

Part of the goose problem is their poo. Geese can create up to three lbs of poop a day!

Apparently MN was the first state to spearhead an urban goose control program. I don't have all the details on this, but of course there are groups opposing the destruction of urban geese.

So people kill geese, but they have other natural enemies too. These include foxes, gulls, bald eagles, falcons and owls.

So, wave hello to the geese this fall, but watch out for falling poo!

Let's pretend fuzzy goslings are following us around all day long,
Wendell!

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