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OUT -OF -DOORS
<br />THE CANADA GOOSE AND ITS
<br />MANAGEMENT
<br />by
<br />James A. Cooper
<br />Associate Professor of Wildlife
<br />Department of Fisheries and Wildlife
<br />University of Minnesota
<br />Page 1 of 5
<br />MINNESOTA OUT -OF- DOORS, August, 1987
<br />Every fall duck blind conversation, over hot coffee and sandwiches, invariably drifts to stories
<br />from the "good old days ". Memories of mallard flights that seemed endless, blue bills back in the
<br />decoys before the birds bagged from the last flock could be retrieved, and the sound of so many
<br />wings that speaking was useless. Unfortunately, duck hunters with these memories grow older each
<br />year. Young hunters cannot imagine selecting drakes only, limiting the shoot to one gun per flock,
<br />and being home by 8 AM with a full bag. Goose pit conversations are similar, but with a difference:
<br />the "good old days" were last weekend, or last season, or the season before. While ducks have
<br />declined, geese, particular the Canada Goose have flourished. Where geese were once so rare that the
<br />lucky hunter who bagged one often got his picture in the local paper, now the birds are abundant and
<br />in some cases, even considered a nuisance. An examination of the factors leading to these changes
<br />not only gives us insight into goose management, but also leads to an understanding of how human
<br />activities can affected wildlife.
<br />The Canada Goose, easily identified by its white cheek - patches and black head and neck, is the
<br />most wide - spread and abundant North American goose. It occurs in every state and province
<br />sometime during the year. The species breeds from Labrador to Alaska, south to California, and
<br />eastward to Georgia. In winter, Canada geese may be found from southeastern Alaska to Hawaii and
<br />Mexico, and from Massachusetts to Florida. Current surveys indicate that the species exceeds 3
<br />million individuals, and that its southern breeding range continues to expand.
<br />The Canada Goose shows great variation in body size, and regional differences in plumage, bill
<br />shape, and call. The smallest birds, slightly larger than a Mallard at 4 pounds, breed in the far north
<br />and winter in the far south. The largest birds, such as those breeding in Minnesota, average 12 to 14
<br />pounds with some individuals weighing up to 18 pounds. Intermediate types are found in between.
<br />Eastern range birds, whether small or large, tend to have light belly feathers and buff -brown back,
<br />tail, and wing feathers, with few showing white rings at the base of the neck. As one travels
<br />westward, belly feathers become progressively darker. The darkest birds are found breeding in the
<br />humid coastal climates. Some, notably the coastal Canadian and Alaskan birds, have distinct white
<br />rings at the base of the neck. These rings may be up to 1 to 1.5 inches in width. The smaller geese
<br />typically have short, heavy bills and yelping -like calls similar to the bark of a small dog, while the
<br />large birds have proportional larger and more slender bills, and deep, resonating honks.
<br />Several authorities have divided the species into 8 to 36+ "races" or "subspecies ". Whether the
<br />situation is one of distinct races, or a gradual change in body size and characteristics, is still open to
<br />scientific debate. Perhaps it would be best for now, to use a "small" (up to 6 pounds), "medium" (6 to
<br />10 pounds), and "large" (greater than 10 pounds) approach.
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<br />http: / /www.fw.umn.edu /research /goose /html /out.html 4/7/00
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