Nature, History and Horticulture in Fairfax County
Volume 11, No. 2 sUMMER 2011
The Ubiquitous Resident Canada Goose
Why can’t we feed the geese?
T
hey like ponds, vegetation, food and safe nesting areas. Fairfax County has ponds, vegetation, food and safe nesting areas.
Therefore, Fairfax County has resident Canada geese.
Prior to the late 1960s, the V-shaped flying formation of geese migrating along the Atlantic Flyway marked the change of seasons. However, geese are now part of everyday life in our parks. Geese took up residency possibly because of birds that were propagated to stock local hunting preserves. Most of the county’s Canada geese are full-time residents. They have no reason to leave because we have created ideal conditions for them, and their goslings, which learn to nest, breed and travel from their parents, don’t learn to migrate. Canada geese weigh 20 to 25 pounds and live some 20 years. They mate for life and remain together as pairs year-round. If one dies, the other will find a new mate. Mating season is early February through early April, with nesting season for those three years of age and older from late March through mid-May. They lay about one egg per day until there are around five eggs in the nest. Incubation begins after all the eggs are laid and lasts 28 to 30 days. Normally, all eggs hatch on the same day. When the geese molt from early June to late July, they lose their flight feathers and can’t fly for several weeks. By early August, new flight feathers are fully developed and the birds are back in the air. During the molting period, geese need to be near water so they can escape from predators by swimming. Their natural predators include large owls, raccoons, foxes, coyotes and snapping turtles.
Environmental Concerns Fairfax County’s 2010 Annual Report on the Environment says problems with geese are “not so much the animals per se but rather the fecal contamination they bring to our
Mowed grass near a pond, such as at the county Government Center, is an ideal feeding spot for geese. People like those areas as well, and they often feed the geese. It’s a cute interaction, but it’s unhealthy for the geese. Human foods, like bread or popcorn, can make an entire flock sick, and geese can become dependent upon humans for food. Fairfax County Wildlife Biologist Vicky Monroe says, “A poor diet, comprised of non-natural foods, can lead to metabolic bone disease and many other problems for geese.” Feeding them also keeps them nearby and defecating. Remember, geese are wild animals. They sometimes become aggressive if they feel threatened. They’ll honk and hiss to warn other geese of trouble nearby. They might become aggressive if they’re expecting food from people and don’t get it. There are county residents who have been innocently sitting at picnic tables and have discovered the origin of the word “goose” as a verb. It is a painful discovery.
continued on page 2 Fairfax County Park Authority • Fairfax, VA 22035 • 703-324-8695 • Fax 703-324-3996 • TTY 703-803-3354 • www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources