The honk heard across the Great Lakes
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EmailLearn more about the comeback story of the giant Canada goose and how to coexist with them.
Close your eyes and listen — the unmistakable honking drifts through the air, a familiar sound that, along with their V-shaped flight and striking black necks with white chinstraps, makes the presence of the giant Canada goose instantly recognizable. Giant Canada geese are an inextricable part of our Michigan landscape. These iconic waterfowl connect people to nature through their sights and sounds, marking the changing seasons, and serve a vital role in Michigan's hunting heritage.
The giant Canada goose (Branta canadensis maxima) is a Michigan native subspecies of Canada goose which has a long and storied history in the Great Lakes region over the past century. While there are many subspecies of Canada goose, the giant Canada goose is the most well-known. These large waterfowl thrive in a wide range of habitats near water, grassy areas, and farmland. Giant Canada geese (hereafter Canada geese) are social birds that often form large family flocks and lifelong mates. While geese have few predators themselves, raccoons, skunks, foxes, and crows sometimes prey upon their eggs. Many may consider this large waterfowl a nuisance, but Canada geese have embarked on an incredible journey to get to where they are now.
From the brink of extinction to abundance
In the early 1900s, Canada goose populations were devastated by unregulated hunting that included egg collecting and habitat destruction from wetlands being drained and filled to expand agriculture. At one point during this period, it was thought that this subspecies may be extinct due to minimal sightings. To help combat this declining population, geese were bred in areas across the region, including a prominent site at Michigan State University’s W. K. Kellogg Biological Station in Hickory Corners. Geese bred at these sites were released to stock local populations. By the late 1980s and early 1990s, the conservation program succeeded so well that there was hunting season for Canada geese.
Fast forward to the present, Canada goose populations are alive and well – some may even say “too well.” Michigan’s estimates of Canada geese have been near or above the state’s desired abundance range of 175,000 to 225,000 birds for the past several years, and the statewide population has peaked at 300,000 geese in previous years. A 2024 population estimate for Canada geese was a little over 281,000 individuals.
Hunting plays a critical role in managing the statewide population. Since Canada geese are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, all hunting of the species is regulated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Currently, Michigan takes advantage of the most liberal season lengths and bag limits allowed for Canada geese by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regulations.
Conservation efforts and the adaptability of giant Canada geese
Canada geese have come to thrive and capitalize on urban and suburban areas where there are endless expanses of lush, green turfgrass. This has resulted in human-goose conflicts, particularly near waterbodies. Canada geese can make quite a mess with their droppings and summer wing molt, making it hard to enjoy swimming, lake views and recreational activities.
Many parks, golf courses, and lakefront properties offer all the things Canada geese need to be happy — an abundant food source, water, and manicured lawns with clear visibility across the landscape where they can rear their young in the absence of predators. Lawns serve as a smorgasbord for Canada geese, who are efficient grazers with an affinity for cool-season grasses, aquatic vegetation, and seeds growing along lakes and other waterbodies.
Natural shorelines: A step towards coexistence
Natural shorelines are well known for helping lake health, but they can also help reduce human-goose conflicts. If you have goose problems on your shoreline property, consider modifying your landscaping by creating an unmown vegetated buffer or shoreline garden that contains a diversity of upland and wetland species such as warm season grasses, trees, shrubs, sedges and rushes. Not only will these plants help deter geese from coming onto the lawn, but they can also help protect the shoreline against soil erosion, improve lake water quality, and create a diversity of habitats that support native fish, wildlife, and pollinators.
If possible, a 35’ wide vegetation buffer along the shoreline is recommended. If this is not possible, create a vegetative buffer that is as wide and deep as possible. You can also focus on a targeted section of your shoreline to motivate geese to go elsewhere. The Michigan Natural Shoreline Partnership, dedicated to the protection of Michigan lakes through conservation and restoration of natural shorelines, is a great resource for additional information. While not a silver bullet, a natural shoreline can help discourage or deter geese from frequenting an area as often.
If habitat modification is not possible, there are several other options that can help in areas with human-goose conflicts. Most importantly, never feed geese or other waterfowl. Other options include the use of non-lethal hazing/harassment techniques such as hiring a private goose contractor with trained dogs and radio-controlled boats, or various deterrents including barrier fencing, mylar tape, bird scare balloons, plastic flags, flashing lights/lasers, shell crackers, bird bangers, screamers, bird alarms, distress cries, and electronic noise systems. You can also obtain a permit for nest and egg destruction.
For additional resources about resolving human-goose conflicts, visit the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Nuisance Wildlife webpage, or contact Michigan DNR Wildlife Division at DNR-Wildlife@michigan.gov or 517-284-9453.
A conservation success story to celebrate
Whether you love them or have a hard time living with them, Canada geese are here to stay. While notorious for their loud hissing or intimidating behaviors, there are many positive aspects to the return of Canada geese. As a native species, they are an important part of our ecosystem, and the disappearance of the giant Canada goose would have been a tragic story of ecological loss. Rather than viewing them solely as a nuisance, we can embrace the opportunity to observe and appreciate these birds, much like we do with other species through birdwatching. This experience is accessible to a wide range of people, from outdoor enthusiasts to backyard birders.
Additionally, regulated waterfowl hunting offers a meaningful way to utilize Canada geese as a food source, providing a practical alternative to more aggressive control measures in areas where human-goose conflicts arise. So, the next time you see the classic V-flying formation and hear a distant honk, consider the unbelievable conservation journey giant Canada geese have taken so they can thrive today.
The Michigan State University Extension Center for Lakes and Streams provides resources and support to lakefront property owners and managers. Visit our website at canr.msu.edu/cls to learn more.
This article was originally published in the Summer 2025 issue of the Michigan Riparian magazine, a publication produced by the Michigan Lakes and Streams Association.
