Geese Habitat and Food

Canada Geese inhabit areas such as ponds, lakes, marshes and fields, as well as public areas such as city parks, schools and golf courses.  Geese prefer open, grassy areas near water. The water provides geese with the protection and safety needed to escape from predators.  A clear view will allow geese to be able to see who/what is approaching them. Nesting females generally return to the same nesting area year after year and often return to the same area where they were hatched.

What Do They Eat?

Geese are grazing birds that eat a variety of different items. They eat roots, shoots, stems, seeds, and leaves of grass and grain, bulbs, and berries. They also eat insects and Canada Geese can submerge their heads in water to graze on aquatic plants.

Some cities are having trouble with overpopulation of the geese and, for this reason, are trying to discourage people from feeding them in the overpopulated areas.  But it is still an all-time favorite activity to go to a park or pond on a beautiful day to find a family of geese and feed them in a relaxing environment.

Here are some helpful reminders you should remember and be aware of when feeding the geese:

Feed the geese whole wheat and cracked corn, not bread. Bread does not have much nutritional value for these birds.

Canada Geese are actually herbivores. They do not prefer to feed on fish or cat food, especially the type with fish such as tuna or salmon cat food. They mainly feed on grass in their natural environment, and are content to find whole wheat grains and cracked corn in the fields, therefore it is nutritious to feed them similar wild bird food containing grains and cracked corn.

Be specific in the type of bird seed you feed geese. If feeding the geese wild bird seed, remember that geese do not eat sunflower seeds. When you bring seed to the geese at the park or by the pond, it is suggested that you pile the seed up in small piles on the grass and let the geese come and find it. Do not throw the seed into the water because geese mainly feed and prefer to stay on land. They do occasionally go into the water for a swim or to clean off.

Geese are actually picky eaters. Believe it or not, they will not consume everything you put in front of them.

Do not feed geese straight out of your hand. It can be dangerous. The best way to feed the geese would be to spread seed on the grass so geese can feed on the seed while looking for food.

It can be fun, relaxing and entertaining to watch and feed the geese but do not get into the habit of trying to feed them out of the palm of your hand! They do not have teeth but they have very sharp, dangerous beaks that can harm you! Adult geese are also very protective of their young so keep a safe distance away.   So remember to be very careful while in a goose’s company.