ST. LOUIS – Canada geese are one of the most recognized species, known for their black necks and white chinstraps. 

Come this time of year, April is their breeding and nesting season.

“The young will be hatching soon. And that’s all fine and dandy for the geese but sometimes it creates some conflict with humans because this is the time of year geese can get kind of aggressive,” said Dan Zarlenga from the Missouri Department of Conservation.

This native wildlife species is most commonly found in parks, golf courses and farms.

“We actually have a very good habitat for geese. They like very short-mowed grass. They eat that and it also makes them feel safe because they can see for any potential predators,” Zarlenga explained. 

Sharing urban landscapes with us humans can cause conflict with Canada geese.

“One of the ways you can deal with that is to respect the geese’s area. This is only a temporary thing; it’ll only last a couple of months or so until the young get their flight feathers in July and then it’ll be over with,” Zarlenga said. 

Keeping geese away from a particular area is doable by keeping the grass a bit higher than normal and not feeding them processed human food.

“That’s another thing that makes them so aggressive—they start getting used to human-provided food and then they start expecting it,” Zarlenga said. 

If you happen to get too close, back away slowly and maintain eye contact.

Along with understanding their behavior, maintaining a safe distance from geese can minimize conflict and help to coexist peacefully with these birds.