As the warmer weather takes hold, the Town of Huntington comes alive with events, activities, and visitors. Residents take advantage of everything – our hopping downtowns, our beaches, and our parks. All creatures big and small “flock” to town to take advantage of all it has to offer.
But, we must always remember that we humans are not the only visitors or inhabitants sharing the space. Recently, visitors have noticed that many geese have made our parks home. They have also noticed that at times, they can be a bit unpredictable. To ensure that we safely cohabitate with our fowled friends from Canada, here are a few tips to make interactions a bit friendlier and safer:
- Canada geese nest between mid-March and early June of each year (Eggs incubate for approximately 28 days).
- Their nests are bowl shaped and made of grasses, leaves and other plant material.
- During nesting season, the male goose stands sentinel near the nest to watch for potential threats to the nest and will act aggressively, if approached.
- When threatened geese may honk, hiss, or nod their heads.
- The female goose spends most of her time incubating the eggs, but if approached while sitting on a nest she will also act aggressively to protect the eggs.
- The pond, islands and lawn area at our parks create an ideal habitat for the geese to nest.
- When visiting our parks, if geese are present, be alert during nesting season.
- Be aware of potential nesting areas and avoid the location if possible.
- Make sure to keep all children and animals close to you and away from nests
- Huntington Town Code §159-4 prohibits people or pets from approaching geese or wildlife
- Federal law protects Canada geese. It is illegal to harm geese, their eggs, or their nests in the United States without permission from the U.S. Fish and Wild Service (USFWS),
We have so much to offer in Huntington and yet, when nature is involved, events can be unpredictable. No matter where the warmer weather takes you, let’s put safety first for the betterment of all.
This article is from the Town of Huntington’s newsletter to residents.