Canada goose
Branta canadensis
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Photo credit: GBNNSS
Branta canadensis - Canada goose
Habitat:
Description:
Origin and Distribution:
Impacts:
Is it found in Northern Ireland?
How did it get here?
You can help by reporting any sightings: @ the Centre for Environmental Data & Recording (CEDaR) - Or via the iRecord App.
Prevent Spread
Current Legislation Position (Northern Ireland only):
For further queries, you can contact the Invasive Non Native Species (INNS) Team in the Northern Ireland Environment Agency on 028 9056 9558 or Email: invasivespecies@daera-ni.gov.uk
Branta canadensis - Canada goose
Habitat:
- Live in freshwater but graze on land nearby
Description:
- Dark brown colour
- Black head and neck with white bands on the cheek and neck
- Similar in size to the snow goose but have different colouration
Origin and Distribution:
- Native to Canada and North USA
- Migrate south in winter months going to south America, eastern Asia, the Caribbean and western Europe
- Each year the females lay 5-7 eggs which are protected by the adults from laying to the chicks fledging
Impacts:
- Changing nutrient levels and plant communities by their droppings and grazing
- Can live close to people so there is a risk of diseases to both people and animals
- Can damage food crops and farmland by grazing
- Can cause damage to flood defences and bank erosion by their movements between land and water
Is it found in Northern Ireland?
- Is found in Northern Ireland. Distribution maps can be found at NBN Atlas Northern Ireland
How did it get here?
- Introduced as ornamental birds for parks and gardens
- Birds migrating to the UK then staying due to climate and availability of nesting sites
You can help by reporting any sightings: @ the Centre for Environmental Data & Recording (CEDaR) - Or via the iRecord App.
Prevent Spread
- Report all sightings
- Great care must be taken to ensure individuals kept in confinement do not escape
Current Legislation Position (Northern Ireland only):
- Branta canadensis is listed in Schedule 9 of the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 and as such, under Article 15 it is an offence to release or allow this species to escape into the wild.
For further queries, you can contact the Invasive Non Native Species (INNS) Team in the Northern Ireland Environment Agency on 028 9056 9558 or Email: invasivespecies@daera-ni.gov.uk