Creature Feature: The Comeback of the Canada Goose

By Gabriella Cilento, Development Assistant

With its black head and neck and its white "chinstrap," the Canada goose (Branta canadensis) is one of North America's most recognizable birds. They can typically be found near lakes, rivers, wetlands, and across urban neighborhoods and parks. Their populations have increased substantially in recent years, partially due to a removal of their natural predators and an abundance of human-made habitats.

While many are migratory, flying in their classic V-shaped formation to conserve energy in the spring and fall, some populations remain year-round in the southern part of their breeding range thanks to the adequate winter food supply. Their strong family bonds means that they typically mate for life, and are fiercely protective of their young, especially before the goslings fledge.

But did you know there was a time where these ubiquitous geese were almost extinct? During the late 1800s and early 1900s, there was a dramatic population decline due to overhunting and important wetland habitat loss. Their populations were so threatened, that one subspecies, the giant Canada goose, was declared to be extinct in the 1950s, before a small population was discovered alive in Minnesota in 1963. Populations were able to recover thanks to conservation efforts between private, state, and federal resources, namely through habitat protection and restoration, hunting regulations, and captive breeding programs.

While the Canada goose may be considered a pest in some areas today, it is a reminder that we can all make a difference in saving a species from extinction. Protecting habitats and wildlife today can help ensure that future generations will be able to experience a thriving world.