Hello,
This morning my mother (who lives in northern New Jersey) called me to ask about a Canada goose who has a nest near her office building. The building is located on some land with a small lake.
She said that the goose has been quite aggressive toward people, but this morning she and a couple of her co-workers witnessed the goose actually kill another goose. He apparently proceeded to chew on the other goose's neck after he had died.
I've been birding for 5 years, I have a degree in animal behavior and am currently in graduate school studying Anthrozoology. I know that Canada geese can be aggressive during mating and nesting season, but I have never heard about a Canada goose killing another goose. I couldn't find anything on Google searches or in any peer-reviewed journals that I have access to through my college.
Is this abnormal? Is it possible that the goose is ill-- possibly an avian equivalent of rabies? (I'm not sure if this even exists |:d|).
Thanks very much!
This morning my mother (who lives in northern New Jersey) called me to ask about a Canada goose who has a nest near her office building. The building is located on some land with a small lake.
She said that the goose has been quite aggressive toward people, but this morning she and a couple of her co-workers witnessed the goose actually kill another goose. He apparently proceeded to chew on the other goose's neck after he had died.
I've been birding for 5 years, I have a degree in animal behavior and am currently in graduate school studying Anthrozoology. I know that Canada geese can be aggressive during mating and nesting season, but I have never heard about a Canada goose killing another goose. I couldn't find anything on Google searches or in any peer-reviewed journals that I have access to through my college.
Is this abnormal? Is it possible that the goose is ill-- possibly an avian equivalent of rabies? (I'm not sure if this even exists |:d|).
Thanks very much!
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