Canada Goose Facts
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The Canada Goose (Branta canadensis), perhaps best known for its flying V formation, inhabits all areas of North America with the exception of the extreme Southwest deserts.
Summer breeding season sees the flocks settled across Canada. Winter season sees the flocks settled across the United States.
Scientists hypothesize that their flying formations help them conserve energy during migrations.
Their affinity for residing near grassy areas with a water source, along with their protected status, means large flocks of Canada Geese live in many areas, often to the consternation of local residents that come into contact with their droppings.
Recent Research suggests that large amounts of droppings have the potential to contaminate local water supplies. Additionally, the contamination can be traced back to Canada Goose populations.
"Fecal DNA extracts from sewage plants (10 samples) and different species of birds (11 samples) and mammals (18 samples) were used to test for host specificity. Of all the assays tested, one assay showed specificity for Canada goose fecal DNA. The PCR assay was positive for Canada goose fecal DNA extracts collected from three locations in North America (Ohio, Oregon, and Ontario, Canada). Additionally, of 48 DNA extracts from Lake Ontario waters presumed to be impacted by waterfowl feces, 19 tested positive by the assay, although 10 were positive only after a nested PCR approach was used. Due to the level of host specificity and the presence of signals in environmental waters, the assay is proposed as a part of the toolbox to detect Canada goose contamination in waterfowl-contaminated waters."
Increasingly communities from coast to coast are actively addressing local flock issues. Some communities opt for non-lethal procedures such as hazing techniques to discourage goose settlement. Other communities are culling local populations, and distributing the goose meat to local food banks.
Because population levels continue to grow, local stories about problematic flocks will probably not diminish.
Formally considered a Canada Goose subspecies, the Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii) is the newest member of the goose taxonomy.
The picture shows its close resemblance to the Canada Goose. A side by side comparison would show the Cackling Goose to be smaller with a smaller bill.
A few separate populations winter along the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Northwest. Summer breeding season finds them all in Northern Canada.
© 2010-2011 Patricia A. Michaels