Where Are the Goslings? Why Canada Geese May Be Laying Fewer Eggs

Do you remember walking past an open green space in the springtime, and hearing geese squawking because you accidentally got to close to their nest or even their goslings? I sure due. It isn’t uncommon to see geese fiercely guarding their nests or parading a fuzzy gaggle of goslings near a pond during the spring. But over the last few years I have noticed something is different… There is not as many goslings as there used to be. Where are all the goslings?

There are many factors that might be contributing to the reduction of eggs being laid, or even to the survival of the goslings.

Nature’s Population Control

Maybe it is just nature’s population control? In the recent decades the populations of Canadian geese have actually sky rocketed, especially in urban and suburban areas. As their number increases nature tends to push back. The population of Canadian geese began to rise during the mid to late 20th century, especially after a sharp decline earlier in the century. During the early 20th century Canadian geese populations took a sever hit, due to over hunting and due to the loss of wetlands. By the 1930s–1940s, some subspecies were nearly extinct. Between the 1950’s and 1970’s wildlife agencies began restocking programs, they raised geese in captivity and releasing them to rebuild populations. There where also great efforts to protect wetlands and to restrict hunting on geese, both of which helped the population bounce back. By 1980’s there was a rapid growth in the population. The geese that were raised in captivity did adapt well, but that was not their only adaptation. They started to adapt to urban and suburban areas. Where they found less predators, but plenty of lawns and ponds. At this point populations of non-migrant flocks in the U.S and southern Canada started to increase.

Today, there is now an abundance or over abundance of geese is many regions. Which has led to management efforts such as egg adding, hazing and even controlled hunting. Some urban areas are now struggling with geese related issues such as; overgrazing, water pollution, and aggressive behavior.

High population density can lead to:

• Fewer suitable nesting sites

• Increased competition for food

• More stress on breeding pairs

As a result, some geese may lay smaller clutches, delay nesting, or skip breeding altogether.

Loss of Habitat

To geese the perfect nesting ground is undisturbed wetlands, grassland shorelines, but many of these areas have become developed or are even disturbed by human activity. Construction, noise, mowing, and even heavy foot traffic can discourage geese from nesting or cause them to abandon their eggs.

Even though Canadian geese are highly adaptable birds, which is a reason they have become common in cities and suburban areas, they still need suitable areas to nest. And those habitats are shrinking fast. Over the last century, the rapid development of suburban areas has drastically altered the landscape geese depend on. The wetlands, riverbanks, grasslands, and marshes, geese once relied on for nesting, have been drained or built over for:

• Housing developments

• Farmland

• Roads and parking lots

• Golf courses and recreation areas

• Industrial and commercial expansion

While geese will adapt and nest in artificial habitats like storm-water ponds or landscaped parks, these areas are often exposed, noisy, and unsafe. They frequently lack the cover geese need to protect their eggs from predators and human interference.

Predators on the Rise

Goose eggs and goslings are extremely vulnerable during the nesting season, especially in today’s fragmented habitats that offer little natural protection. Many nests are exposed, making eggs easy targets for predators such as raccoons, foxes, coyotes, seagulls, and even domestic pets. As urban and suburban areas expand, so too have predator populations. Driven by warmer winters, overflowing trash bins, and reduced hunting pressure. These predators, much like the geese, have adapted to living alongside humans and now thrive in places like parks, parking lots, and storm-water basins. As more geese are forced to nest in these exposed environments, the chances of their eggs or goslings surviving drops significantly, even if adult goose populations remain high.

Changing Weather Patterns

Climate change has had an effect on a lot of species and environments, due to the changing intensity and timing of the seasons. The earlier springs have been throwing of migration and nesting patterns. While at the same time late frosts or flooding events have destroy nests. Unpredictable weather patterns, such as sudden temperature drops, intense rainstorms, and prolonged droughts, have affected both nesting success and food availability. For example, if early spring warmth encourages geese to nest and then a cold snap follows, the embryos may die from exposure. Similarly, nesting near flood-prone areas, common for geese seeking water access, can result in entire clutches being lost overnight. As extreme weather becomes more frequent, the risks to nesting success grow.

Human Management Efforts

In some areas, wildlife managers intentionally limit goose reproduction through egg addling, a method where eggs are treated to prevent hatching. This is especially common in places like airports, reservoirs, or parks where overabundant geese create hazards or health concerns.

Other methods include nest removal, relocation, and controlled hunting programs aimed at reducing overpopulation. These actions are usually conducted quietly and in coordination with local regulations, so the public may not be aware of their impact. However, when carried out at scale, these programs significantly reduce the number of goslings seen in spring and early summer. While they help protect public spaces and ecosystems from damage, they also contribute to the impression that geese are laying fewer eggs.

Health and Age of Breeding Pairs

Older or unhealthy geese often lay fewer eggs, and younger pairs may not breed every year.  As with many animals, reproduction in geese is actively expensive. If food is scarce or if a goose experienced trauma or poor conditions the previous year, it may conserve energy by not nesting. In areas where habitat quality is declining, this can lead to a noticeable drop in nesting behavior or egg production. Furthermore, as geese age, their fertility declines, just like in humans, making clutch sizes smaller and reducing the likelihood that every egg will hatch.

Seeing fewer goslings might be a sign of a natural balance being restored, or a red flag about local environmental health. While Canada geese are still abundant across much of North America, their nesting success depends on a delicate balance of habitat, food, climate, and safety. By paying attention to these patterns, we stay connected not just to the geese, but to the health of our shared environment.