Geese, such as the Canada Goose, are large, conspicuous waterfowl often found near bodies of water. Despite their aggressive defense, they serve as prey for numerous animals. The specific predators that target geese change depending on the bird’s life stage, moving from eggs to young and finally to adults.
Predators Capable of Taking Adult Geese
Overcoming a full-grown goose requires significant size and strength. Terrestrial predators like coyotes and grey wolves are among the few mammals capable of taking down an adult goose, often relying on a coordinated ambush. Coyotes may hunt in pairs, using one animal to distract the aggressive gander while the other maneuvers for a fatal strike. A healthy adult goose can fiercely defend itself, forcing these predators to target individuals that are injured, isolated, or ill.
Large raptors, including bald eagles and golden eagles, occasionally prey on adult geese. An eagle’s strike is a sudden aerial assault, using massive talons to subdue the goose quickly. Bald eagles sometimes attack geese in open water, attempting to drag the struggling bird to shore. Nocturnal hunters like the Great Horned Owl can successfully target geese on the ground at night when the birds are resting.
Threats to Nests and Goslings
The earliest life stages—eggs and newly hatched goslings—represent the greatest vulnerability for geese, attracting the widest array of opportunistic predators. Nests built on the ground are easily accessed by ground-based foragers. Mammals like raccoons, Virginia opossums, and skunks are notorious nest raiders, primarily targeting the large, nutrient-rich eggs. These animals typically operate under the cover of darkness, exploiting brief moments when a parent goose leaves the nest.
Young goslings are flightless and highly susceptible to predation during their first few weeks of life. Red and Arctic foxes are significant threats to gosling broods, quickly snatching several young birds despite parental defense. Avian predators also take a heavy toll; common ravens, American crows, and large gulls patrol nesting areas. These birds exploit momentary separations from the parents, sometimes separating a small gosling from the protective family unit.
Aquatic Hunters
While water offers refuge from most terrestrial hunters, specialized aquatic predators exploit the environment. The common snapping turtle is a major danger, particularly to goslings swimming in shallow, weedy areas. These reptiles lurk beneath the surface and strike from below, pulling the vulnerable birds underwater.
In certain regions, larger, ambush-style fish, such as Northern Pike or Muskie, prey on young waterfowl. A large pike can consume a newly hatched gosling if it swims too close to the fish’s hiding spot. Southern habitats present the risk of alligators, which easily subdue an adult goose by dragging it beneath the surface. River otters, though typically feeding on fish, are also known to occasionally prey on geese, utilizing their speed and agility to overwhelm their quarry.