It’s Canadian Geese Nesting Season!
Some things to know about the Canadian Goose…
- Resident Canadian geese are well-adapted to human dominated landscapes
- They nest in a variety of locales – some in very close proximity to people
- Goose nests occur near:
- Sidewalks
- Entryways of homes and buildings
- Adjacent to paths and roadways
- Balconies, porches and rooftops
- Nesting season occurs as early as late February through mid-may
- Both birds of the pair attend to the nest
- A single goose that appears to be “patrolling” an area may indicate that a nest is in the vicinity
The behavior of nesting geese to humans varies tremendously. Some nesting geese readily flee when approached by humans whereas other geese will stand their ground to defend the nest. Some geese will actually attack approaching humans by running or flying at them.
Goose behavior during nest defense consists of geese standing erect and/or spreading their wings to make themselves appear larger while loudly hissing. The defense behavior can be daunting. Attacking geese will often try to strike their perceived nest predator with their wings and/or will bite.
Here are some helpful tips regarding geese:
- DO NOT FEED THEM
- DO NOT THROW ITEMS AT THEM – they my see this as a threat and attack
- Do not be afraid of them
- Continue to face them
- Never turn your back on them or run away from them
What to do if you come across aggressive geese:
- Avoid contact with the birds, if possible
- Call UHFM (University Housing Facilities Management) Office at 618-650-2070 to report it
- Be specific with date/time/location of incident
- If an issue appears to be an emergency and/or someone is injured, call 911 or contact the SIUE Police non-emergency number 618-650-3324
IF A GOOSE IS ATTEMPTING TO NEST ON YOUR BALCONY OR PATIO – PLEASE CONTACT UFHM IMMEDIATELY!!! (618) 650-2070
University Housing will work closely with Facilities Management regarding aggressive geese around housing facilities.
If you have any other questions or concerns, please contact University Housing Facilities Management at 618-650-2070.