Many geese stay in and around Winnipeg because of their protected status in urban environments and the availability of water, food, nesting sites and safety from predators.

Please be cautious! These unique campus community members are interesting and fun to watch — but be sure to do so from afar. Geese can be aggressive when they feel threatened. However, with some consideration, geese and humans can share our campus without incident.

Operations and Maintenance will be covering planters to deter nesting in areas with high human traffic; geese that nest on rooftops will be provided access ramps for their goslings upon hatching. As the geese begin to nest, signs will be posted in nesting areas to warn people of their presence. Geese don’t like to be surprised and can be protective of their area.

This story is part of the U of M’s “Respect the Goose” education and awareness campaign regarding the goose population on the Fort Garry campus with input from internal and external experts and other stakeholders.

For concerns with wildlife on our campuses, please contact the Customer Service Desk at ppwod@umanitoba.ca.

You can learn more by reading the Respect the Goose series.

You can also learn more about Operations and Maintenance’s wildlife management plan on the goose education web page.

Geese that feel defensive or threatened will honk and hiss … and you should get the message. Don’t get too close!

Management plan created

“We recognize human-geese interactions can be problematic, which is one reason we have an active management plan that is ongoing during the nesting season,” he says about the Goose Management Plan created as part of the university’s wider Wildlife Management Plan.

“We are protecting people by limiting human-geese interaction–and wherever possible, discouraging geese nesting in high traffic or problematic areas, such as planters, or cordoning off nests.

“People’s safety is the priority,” he underlines.

Operations and maintenance has been preparing the Fort Garry campus over the past month or more according to that plan–and several areas have been fenced with signage to identify nesting geese and to encourage avoidance of the area, which is one of the measures under the plan.

Geese are a protected species

It’s important to know that geese are protected under the Canadian law by the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994, and can only be disturbed under permit from the Canadian Wildlife Service if migratory birds are causing or are about to cause serious damage or danger.

The U of M engaged a consultant last year to help develop the Wildlife Management Plan, including the Goose Management Plan, which are guiding actions and measures on campus. Measures are reviewed annually by a group that includes staff, faculty and consultants.

To increase people’s awareness, a Goose Education and Awareness program has been established, with informational resources such as a website, nesting locations, and relevant articles in UM Today, accompanied by a social media campaign.

A goose hotline has been set up for concerns: 204-474-6281 or email: goose [at] umanitoba [dot] ca. Physical Plant will coordinate appropriate services.

What if you encounter a goose? Tips from our experts

The Canada Goose is a large wild goose with a black head and neck, white cheeks and chin and a brown body.

Take a detour.

Geese are territorial, particularly when they are nesting. Avoid the geese pairs and their territory if at all possible, says James Shapiro, director of the Avian Behaviour Laboratory in the department of psychology, Faculty of Arts.

Go the long way around. Don’t enter the space or disturb a goose seeking a nesting place; the gander, the male of the pair, will be protective and defensive.

Make noise.

Warn the geese of your presence by making plenty of noise in advance to avoid startling them.

Getting too close could make the animal feel threatened and act to defend itself. If a goose flies toward you, you can be bruised or lacerated by its claws, says Kevin Fraser, head of the biology’s Avian Behaviour and Conservation Lab in the Faculty of Science.

Back away.

If a goose starts hissing and moves towards you aggressively, back away slowly and remain calm. Don’t escalate. Disengage. Avoid turning your back and running away as the goose will likely chase you.

As a last resort, Fraser suggests spreading your arms to make yourself look bigger and charge the goose. It will turn and run away, he says, because it will perceive you as a larger goose.

To report a problematic encounter with a goose, contact Physical Plant at 204-474-6281 or email: goose [at] umanitoba [dot] ca

See the fowl-lowing for more on geese motivation and behaviour and what to do in the case of an encounter, and tips for co-habitation.

Gaggles of geese are returning to Manitoba over the next few weeks. As we greet our migrating wildlife, Physical Plant is preparing for the increased goose presence on the U of M campuses.

We also want to increase awareness about these unique campus community members, building on last year’s “Respect the Goose” Education and Awareness campaign. Watch our UM Today news site for stories and our social media feeds (#respectthegoose) for more facts and tips for how geese and humans can safely share our physical environment.

Goose on the loose

Many geese stay in and around Winnipeg because of their protected status in urban environments and the availability of water, food, nesting sites and safety from predators.

Take caution! While geese are interesting to watch, be sure to do so from afar. Geese can be aggressive when they feel threatened. However, with some consideration, geese and humans can share our campuses without incident.

A plan for managing the goose presence on campus has been created as part of the university’s Wildlife Management Plan, and U of M’s goose hotline and interactive goose nesting map (which has yet to be created with 2019 information) will allow campus community members to plan their routes on campus as to not disturb nesting geese.

Check back here for more on how we can best cohabitate with geese and what we are doing to prepare for nesting season.

You can report goose related items by e-mail to goose@umanitoba.ca or by phone via the goose hotline, 204-474-6281. All information is received by Physical Plant, and acted on in accordance with the Goose Education and Awareness Plan.

“A mated pair of geese will take their goslings to areas they consider safer, better or more supportive of their dietary and protective needs. None of these objectives is the result of a conscious decision. The parents are responding to environmental stimuli that are important to them and have no idea of how dangerous vehicles can be.”

Geese will cross a road without respecting the vehicles traveling at high rates of speed on the road they are trying to cross, he notes. Anyone coming onto campus or leaving via residential streets is cautioned to drive with care, and to allow geese to cross the roadways as they move around campus.

“We want to alert the campus to is the possibility of having a family of geese with goslings appear suddenly in front of them as they are driving on campus,” Shapiro adds.

Don’t interfere, even if it seems like you could help

As the goslings hatch, staff and students may notice them on rooftops or other apparently unsuitable areas. Physical Plant staff have consulted with Environment Canada experts and the U of M Avian Behaviour Laboratory for advice on how to manage the hatching process. Our wildlife and geese population plan is also informed by Manitoba Conservation, Environment Canada and the U of M Avian Behaviour Laboratory.

With regard to the goslings appearing on campus, please note:

• Goslings have a three-day supply of food within them to provide them with nutrients after hatching.
• Goslings are light and can withstand a jump from a rooftop of up to eight stories without injury.
• The parent geese take the goslings to water and food as necessary.
• In extreme cases where goslings require assistance, MB Wildlife Branch will be contacted by Physical Plant.

Staff and students are reminded that they should avoid interfering with the geese and avoid feeding them.

The geese are likely in their final stages of nesting, so please remain extra cautious, avoid nesting areas and keep a wide berth. Once goslings are hatched, most geese will move on from campus.

Under no circumstances should staff or students attempt to access rooftop areas to provide assistance to geese.

If there are concerns with a goose or goslings in an area, contact Physical Plant at 204-474-6281 or email: goose [at] umanitoba [dot] ca

Physical Plant will coordinate appropriate services.

Also see our interactive goose nesting map, which can be used to plan your exterior route on campus as to not disturb nesting geese.

If you see a nest not on our map, please report it to goose[at]umanitoba[dot]ca or 204-474-6281.

Respect the Goose Series

For other facts and tips on geese, goose behaviors and successfully cohabitating on campus, see more of our “Respect the Goose” series.

Mar. 21, 2018: Geese who’s back? Cohabiting with campus wildlife

Apr. 4: Can’t we all just goose along? Tips, dos and don’ts

Duck, duck, goose: What to do if you encounter a goose

Apr. 17: Geese are part of our community: Article by Dr. James Shapiro

Apr. 25: Take a gander: Check out our interactive nests map to plan your route

The University of Manitoba has created a Goose Education and Awareness committee to inform our plan and to educate the university community about safely cohabiting with geese on campus. This committee consists of interested stakeholders from within the University. Our wildlife and geese population plan is also informed by Manitoba Conservation, Environment Canada and the U of M Avian Behaviour Laboratory.

Geese population management and community safety strategy for 2018

Here is an overview of what we are doing to ensure the safety of our community community and to manage geese populations on campus for 2018. See more on our current geese population management and community safety strategy on the Physical Plant Wildlife Plan 2018 website.

Deterring nesting in high-traffic areas

To prepare for nesting season, Physical Plant monitors well-known nesting areas. In consultation with experts, above-ground planters have been covered with coned mesh wire to promote nesting in locations with less pedestrian traffic. Where installing mesh wire is not feasible, areas are being treated with coyote urine to simulate predator-prey interactions that geese may encounter outside metropolitan areas, causing them to choose new nesting locations.

The Canada Goose.

Signage to warn pedestrians of nest proximity

Once a nest is successfully established, Physical Plant will install signage nearby to alert pedestrian traffic to the proximity of a nesting goose. This signage is for the pedestrian’s safety as much as it is for the nesting female and her mate. Therefore, if you see signage, please consider an alternate path.

Want to be even more proactive in planning your trek across campus? Visit our active nesting sites page, which is continually updated with nesting site locations across campus.

Ensuring community and goose safety for rooftop nesting

For goslings hatched in rooftop nests, Physical Plant will provide ramps for safe access off rooftops. In extreme cases where goslings require assistance, MB Wildlife Branch will be contacted by Physical Plant. Under no circumstances should staff or students attempt to access rooftop areas to provide assistance to geese.

If there are concerns with a goose or goslings in an area, contact Physical Plant at 204-474-6281 or email: goose [at] umanitoba [dot] ca

Physical Plant will coordinate appropriate services.

Canada geese feeding on grass

Nesting Sites

As temperatures rise, female geese choose their nesting sites on campus. Physical Plant will update our interactive goose nesting map, which can be used to plan your exterior route on campus as to not disturb nesting geese.

If you see a nest not on our map, please report it to goose[at]umanitoba[dot]ca or 204-474-6281.

Goose Education and Awareness Plan

The Goose Education and Awareness Committee is dedicated to providing tools and resources to the University community about our native goose population. With proper education and awareness, we can coexist safely in our shared environment on campus.

Goose hotline

The University community can help to ensure community safety and protection of the geese by reporting items of concern to our goose hotline. All information is received by Physical Plant, and acted on in accordance with our geese population management and community safety strategy.

Examples of goose-related items to report could include:

– Aggressive geese

– Near misses/incidents with geese

– Geese nesting near high traffic areas

– Geese nesting on roof tops

– Injured geese

To report a goose-related problem, email goose@umanitoba.ca or phone 204-474-6281.

 

Respect the Goose Series

For other facts and tips on geese, goose behaviours and successfully cohabitating on campus, see more of our “Respect the Goose” series.

Mar. 21, 2018: Geese who’s back? Cohabiting with campus wildlife

Apr. 4: Can’t we all just goose along? Tips, dos and don’ts

Duck, duck, goose: What to do if you encounter a goose

Apr. 17: Geese are part of our community: Article by Dr. James Shapiro

You can also follow us on social media here: https://twitter.com/umanitoba #respectthegoose

Soon you will begin to see more geese on campus – again. A lot of geese. What should you know about them?

Geese are Winnipeggers, too

Well, first, you should know that it is the female that shows her mate where they should go to nest. The female goose is hatched in an area known as her natal area. She migrates south with her parents and learns how to get to her overwintering area and how to return to her natal area. When she is about two or three years of age, she meets, dates, and “marries” a strange male who also migrated with his parents to the same overwintering area. The pair will remain “mated” for the duration of their lives. The female brings her new mate back to her natal area.

So guess what? All of these nesting female geese are Winnipeggers, just like most of you.

We share our common bond to Winnipeg, its amenities, weather, and everything else that makes Winnipeg what it is. One could argue, therefore, that we should view these geese with some degree of shared values. We should not try to scare them, intrude on their territory, make them feel threatened, or otherwise act in a way that may endanger them or you.

Two Flying Canada Geese (Branta canadensis).

What should you do if you encounter a pair of geese?

First, consider the timing. Is the encounter early in the nesting season, say in the next few weeks? Or is it later in the nesting season when the female is sitting on her nest and incubating her eggs?

If your encounter is early in the season, when the female is looking for a suitable location to build her nest, stop approaching the pair and reverse your direction of travel. Alternatively, make a wide detour around the pair. As you are trying to avoid the pair of geese, they will also try to avoid you and may, I say may, move away from you. Let the female of the pair search for her nesting area in peace. Recognize that the male is protecting his mate. If you get too close, he will become defensive.

What will happen if you continue on your path of travel or decide to get closer to the geese, for whatever reason? Perhaps you want to take a picture of them. Perhaps you want to get closer to observe them out of curiosity. What do you think will happen?

Before I answer, let me ask you: “What would you do if someone began violating your personal space in a situation in which you could not move away?” Maybe you would call 911. Maybe you would call for help. Maybe you would blow a whistle. But what happens if you have no other choice but to fight back? If you could not flee, you would fight. That is the position in which you have put the pair of geese.

Geese have no cell phones. They cannot call friends to help them and they cannot blow a whistle. They have only themselves to rely upon. If they can fly away, they will. But if they do not have the room to “taxi” before taking off, they will fight. Not both of them, but only the male. For him, this is a violation of his personal space and, as a result, the safety of his mate. He will attack because he has no other choice.

The gander is big; he is powerful. He will run at you while he spreads his wings. If you run away, run fast. When the gander feels you are no longer a threat to him and his mate, he will stop chasing you.

What if you disturb the pair of geese when the female is sitting on her nest? Under those conditions, the gander will hiss, erect his feathers to make himself look bigger than he actually is, and he may very well run full tilt at you.

You have two options: run or make yourself look bigger by spreading your arms, like he has spread his wings, and run at him. Call his bluff. But do you want to do that? The odds are not in your favour.

My suggestion is not to approach the nesting pair, at any time, for any reason. As fellow Winnipeggers, that is the least that we can do.

To report a problematic encounter with a goose, contact Physical Plant at 204-474-6281 or email: goose [at] umanitoba [dot] ca

Waterfowl and facts

Scouting locations

Where is the female likely to establish her nest? Wild geese, nesting on the tundra in the far north, where there are few trees, prefer raised areas called hummocks. These are grassy knolls where the male can survey the area surrounding his mate’s nest and detect an approaching predator. The female can use material found on the hummock to build her nest.

This tendency to seek out an elevated area on which to nest translates into rooftops or canopies protecting building entrances on our campus. It could also be on top of a planter or on a slope adjacent to a campus building. [Note: This year, planters have been covered with special materials to deter nesting.] It could be any one of many locations on our campus having some of these characteristics. Or it could be any location that satisfies some need of the female. Hence, one should be aware that one can “trip over” a nesting pair of geese anywhere on our campus.

Building the nest and laying the eggs

What happens after the female goose selects her nesting site? After she selects a site, she begins to erect a nest bowl by sitting in place and using her long neck to pick up appropriate material and retrieve it to her sides. She does this systematically, slowly erecting the walls of the nest around her. She lines the nest with down she plucks from herself. And then?

Then she lays her eggs. Eggs in a nest are called a clutch. The average clutch size of the Canada goose is seven to nine eggs. She lays close to one egg per day. Hence, it takes about one week for the female to complete her clutch. All during this time, the male is guarding the female. He is highly sensitive to any potential threat to his mate.

Goose futures: hatching the eggs

It is supremely important for both the male and female goose to hatch their eggs. By so doing, their genes get into their species’ gene pool. It is only by successfully hatching their goslings that they can communicate with the future. They cannot write a book, paint a picture, cure some disease, write an essay, compose a song or in some other way communicate with the future. They can only reproduce successfully to communicate with their future. Hence, the male will guard his nesting mate with every ounce of strength he has, using every sense he possesses, every minute of every day.

It takes 28 days for the eggs to hatch. At the time of hatching, the male goose is very close to the nest. While he may maintain a large territory surrounding his nesting mate while she is incubating, when the eggs hatch, he maintains a very small area surrounding the female and her goslings.

Canada geese and goslings feeding on grass.

Gosling time

Upon hatching, the female goose will keep the goslings warm until they dry off. Usually, this takes approximately 24 hours. When the goslings are dry, the female goose will leave her nest. The goslings will follow her. The male accompanies his mate and his offspring. Usually one parent will lead the goslings and the other parent will bring up the rear. If they are near water, the parents will lead the goslings to the water. It is there that the goslings attain some degree of safety and the parents are less susceptible to predation.

Respect geese as part of our campus experience

All of the behaviour patterns that I have described in a mated pair of geese take place in the midst of all of the activities occurring on our campus. These geese are used to those activities, used to human beings, cars, traffic, tractors, indeed, all human activity. The geese are aware of us and respect our presence. They do not try to intrude upon our activities. It is very important that we reciprocate and respect their presence and their needs. They are not going to go away. Like the buildings that we enter on campus, we should realize that these geese are also part of our campus. We would not vandalize a building. Why would we want to vandalize the territorial activities of a pair of mated geese?

Canada geese on our campus are part of our campus experience. We should be proud of the fact that we have an environment that can attract and support these birds. We should strive to protect them. We should not take selfies with the geese. We should not smoke around them. We should not throw items at them. We should not feed them. We should not antagonize them. Individuals engaging in such activities should be reported to Campus Security.

Support efforts

If you want to help our geese, support the activities being initiated by our university to protect them and to protect you. Support efforts to encourage different departments to come up with innovative means of contributing to the protection of our geese. Do not enter their personal space. Most importantly, honour their presence with the respect that they deserve.

Dr. L. James Shapiro

Director, Avian Behaviour Laboratory

Department of Psychology

This story is part of the U of M’s “Respect the Goose” education and awareness campaign regarding the goose population on the Fort Garry campus with input from internal and external experts and other stakeholders. Respect the Goose series: news.umanitoba.ca/category/respect-the-goose/

Read more here: Geese who’s back?, here: Can’t we all just goose along? Tips for cohabiting with campus wildlife and here: Take a gander: Nesting locations, geese population management, community safety — now with interactive map!
Or follow us on social media here: https://twitter.com/umanitoba #respectthegoose

“Geese have as much right to create a nest and rear their young as you do to purchase a house and live in it,” James Shapiro reminds us. He is associate professor and director of the Avian Behaviour Laboratory in the psychology department, Faculty of Arts, at the U of M.

These unique campus community members can be aggressive when they feel threatened, but with some consideration, geese and humans can share the campus without incident.

For best relations, here are some tips from our U of M experts. 

Geese don’t want to be in your selfies

While it may be tempting to get that perfect shot with wildlife so close, getting too close can make the goose feel threatened. Nesting geese often have a mate nearby who may see the photographer as a threat and attack.

When taking photos of wildlife, give a wide berth, says Kevin Fraser, head of the biology’s Avian Behaviour and Conservation Lab in the Faculty of Science at the University of Manitoba. Don’t take photos that require getting too close!

People food is not goose food

Your kindergarten teachers told you that “sharing is caring,” but this doesn’t apply to feeding geese.  

Geese don’t want your food, and human food may be harmful to their health, says Fraser. There is plenty of grass for them to eat. Don’t feed them.

Do not disturb

Geese are territorial. A nesting goose would rather be left alone. “For a goose to successfully complete nesting and fledge their young, disturbance should be limited as much as possible,” says Fraser. Approaching the nest can cause stress and affect the goose’s ability to complete nesting and fledge their young. Don’t approach.

If you see a goose that needs help, contact Physical Plant at 204-474-6281 or email: goose [at] umanitoba [dot] ca

Do not try to help the animal yourself. Physical Plant staff have consulted with Environment Canada experts and the U of M Avian Behaviour Laboratory for advice on how to manage the hatching process.

Leave space

We can all get along — just keep these tips in mind! The campus wildlife is interesting and fun to watch — but be sure to do so from afar. What to do if you encounter a goose.

With some understanding from the human members of the campus community, humans and geese can live well together.

This story is part of the U of M’s “Respect the Goose” education and awareness campaign regarding the goose population on the Fort Garry campus with input from internal and external experts and other stakeholders. Respect the Goose series: news.umanitoba.ca/category/respect-the-goose/

Read more here: Geese who’s back?, here: Geese are part of our campus community and here: Take a gander: Nesting locations, geese population management, community safety — now with interactive map!

Or follow us on social media here: https://twitter.com/umanitoba #respectthegoose

What to do if you encounter a goose? Here are more tips from our U of M experts.

Make some noise

If a goose or gander can’t see you approach, make plenty of noise in advance to warn them of your presence and to avoid startling them. Getting too close to a goose could make the animal feel threatened and act to defend itself. If a goose flies toward you, you can be bruised or lacerated by its claws, says Kevin Fraser, head of the biology’s Avian Behaviour and Conservation Lab in the Faculty of Science.

Avoid escalating an encounter

Leave before a goose starts chasing. Avoid escalating the situation.

If you need to report a problematic encounter with a goose, contact Physical Plant at 204-474-6281 or email: goose [at] umanitoba [dot] ca

Back away slowly

If one charges you, back away slowly and remain calm. As a last resort, Fraser suggests spreading your arms to make yourself look bigger and charge the goose. It will turn and run away, he says, because it will perceive you as a larger goose.

Do not turn your back on a goose that is threatening you, he advises. Keep your arms up to protect yourself.

See more tips here: http://news.umanitoba.ca/cant-we-all-just-goose-along

This story is part of the U of M’s “Respect the Goose” education and awareness campaign regarding the goose population on the Fort Garry campus with input from internal and external experts and other stakeholders. Respect the Goose series: news.umanitoba.ca/category/respect-the-goose/

Read more here: http://news.umanitoba.ca/geese-whos-back/ or follow us on social media here: https://twitter.com/umanitoba #respectthegoose