Protective Geese Harass Walkers In Northfield's Birch Grove Park

It's nesting season for geese, and walkers in Northfield's Birch Grove Park are finding out how aggressive they can be when they think their nests are being threatened.

I saw several posts on the Northfield Lounge Facebook page about close calls trail walkers have had recently with geese.

BIRCH GROVE PARK PSA....If you are a frequent trail walker at Birch Grove I would recommend avoiding the trails by the covered bridge and near the main water areas. The geese are now nesting and the males are more aggressive than we have ever experienced. In past years, we would just walk by them and pass them as far as we could from the nests. Today we were chased off one trail and than tried another one and a goose flew 50 feet directly at my husband. We obviously respected their space and walked the outer loop. Next month we will have some babies that we can watch grow!

My daughter and I turned around on one trail last weekend for this reason. He started chasing us and “yelling” at us. First time that’s happened.

I'm here right now, and I did not see your warning first. I got trapped between two pairs, and I did not know how I was going to get out of there! And it's getting darker and darker.

Facts about Geese Protecting Their Nests

We did a little research into how protective geese can be during nesting season. Here's what we found on Goosemasters.com.

- During nesting, from late February until mid-May, geese become more aggressive, especially when any predators come near their nest. A goose protects their egg for a month before hatching begins, and during that time, they become very territorial.

- If geese find a place that meets all of their needs, they are likely to turn it into a seasonal home. Lakes like the ones at Birch Grove Park typically make for a hospitable habitat for geese.

- Geese have become a bit too comfortable around humans as their populations have exploded. This has made them less intimidated by people who happen to be on a walking trail near their nest, and more likely to attack if they feel threatened.

- Although geese are no longer an endangered species, federal law does protect Canada geese. It is illegal to harm geese, their eggs, or their nests without permission from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.