DAPHNE, Ala. —Lake Forest recently received some out-of-town feathered guests that may be here for an extended stay.

Darren LeBlanc, fish and wildlife biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, said the birds, which are currently living in Lake Forest Lake, are Canada geese, also known as Branta Canadensis. The birds, LeBlanc said, are native to Canada, but there are some subspecies of the genus, which are normally found in different geographic locations.

“The eastern (or southern) subspecies, which is normally found here, is Branta Canadensis. There are several other members of the Branta genus, however, none are found in this area,” LeBlanc said.

Don Prosch, a resident of Lake Forest, said he first noticed the geese a few months ago.

“I take my kayak out on the lake almost every evening,” Prosch said. “I was surprised and shocked to see two of these geese who aren’t native to this area. I was even more shocked a few months later when there were also four goslings following the adults.”

Prosch said he has seen the small family of geese almost every evening while out enjoying the lake.

“They have gotten pretty used to seeing me now,” he said. “They aren’t scared of me anymore.”

Canada geese have a black neck, bill and head with a white strap under their chin. The birds can also have white patches elsewhere on their bodies. The body tends to be brownish gray. Females can be slightly smaller than males, but males and females typically look similar, according to data from the University of Michigan.

Young Canada geese are called goslings and tend to be yellow with some greenish and gray colorings on top of their heads.

The birds typically eat grass, aquatic plants, corn, beans, wheat and rice.

Geese such as those found in Lake Forest were rare until the latter half of the 20th century, LeBlanc said, because restrictions put on hunting allowed the species to flourish once more.

“Hunting restrictions and a greater conservation ethic, which really took off in the 1960s, has allowed the species to recover,” LeBlanc said.

The birds typically migrate south during the winter months and head back north for the summer months, according to data from the University of Michigan’s Museum of Zoology.

LeBlanc also said since the birds have made a comeback to this area, the birds have selected certain areas as their homes.

“City parks, golf courses, and subdivisions with small lakes provide ideal conditions for Canada geese,” LeBlanc said. “So much so, that many individuals stopped migrating back to Canada for the summer during the breeding season. Many areas of the country now have resident Canada goose populations, including here.” 

LeBlanc said the birds that stay in Daphne move between subdivisions, turf farms, agricultural fields and wetlands or lakes in the area. He also said the geese do not use the Mobile/Tensaw Delta or Mobile Bay like migrating ducks do.

LeBlanc said the birds being in Lake Forest Lake is not necessarily dangerous, but the birds should be left alone, especially since there are young birds present.

“Whether the birds are harmful depends on the number of birds and how long they stay in one area. Any wild animal you encounter should be left alone. These birds can be aggressive, especially if they are nesting or have ducklings. Disturbing nesting individuals is also a violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act,” LeBlanc said.

The law, passed in 1918, which prohibits the spring shooting of migrating birds in the U.S. and Canada. It currently has a quota system in place and the number of birds allowed to each hunter depends upon the bird population.

Males are more aggressive than females. Males and females will use their bills and wings when attacking, but the birds will take flight when danger approaches.

LeBlanc said the birds typically are not an issue when they make their homes in a residential area, but some people consider the birds to be a nuisance.

Across the country, Canada geese have been blamed for overgrazing lawns and crops, leaving feces behind or negatively affecting water quality and crops.

Prosch said he doesn’t have a problem with the geese, and enjoys seeing them out on the lake. He said he just hopes the geese don’t get too comfortable on his property.

“I found the two adult geese on my pool deck a while back. I don’t want them to stay there too much because they tend to leave big messes behind,” Prosch said.