What was going on with the geese this morning? A raccoon tried to get into the nest while both of them were there! This went a little better for the raccoon who investigated the eggs last week, before MG started full incubation: https://youtu.be/4QnHay1ajUo?si=QArQZVmF14IVnUiV and https://youtu.be/M9UbphJOjic?si=JNFzPJumJ-eVOwI1. But geese are large, formidable foes and the raccoon quickly backed down.
How large are Canada Geese? Cornell tells us that they are 29.9-43.3 inches long (76-110 cm), weigh 6.5 to 20 pounds (I’m assuming the large geese are subspecies maxima), and have a wingspan of 50.0-66.9 inches (127-170 cm).
Papa Goose takes umbrage at an exploring raccoon! He successfully repelled the intruder.
I’m not sure what the raccoon was chewing – some equipment, perhaps? – but MG still has five eggs, so we know it wasn’t one of them!
The Raptor Resource Project