Geese 1+1 = 10
There is a small pond on the property where I deer hunt in Hillsdale. When I was over this spring, looking to bag a gobbler, a pair of geese where often seen cruising the little pond. They didn’t like having me around, and would become quite vocal if I got too close. I was sure they were going to nest somewhere nearby, and they did.
They hatched eight gosling’s in early spring, and really didn’t appreciate my presence, once they had little ones to protect. Any time I visited the property I’d stay clear of the pond, as much as possible. Anyone who has ever been attacked by an angry goose knows it is serious business!
When I was a kid a neighbor boy had a pet fox. They also had some nesting geese on their property, and one day the semi-adult fox got too close for his own good. One of the geese took exception to the foxes intrusion, grabbed him by the back of the neck, shook him violently, and that was the end of Mr. fox. Moral of this story-steer clear of geese with attitude.
Recently I was back in Hillsdale, and snapped this picture of the family of geese taking off from the pond. Two geese came to visit, and ten geese flew away. Looks like mama and papa goose did a good job of raising their offspring without loosing even one to the foxes or coyotes.
Mike