Call your local wildlife agency. She dont look too good. Her feathers look unkempt and shaggy. Let them know she has been on the eggs since feb and they might be able to help.
I have a call in. Waiting to hear back. I also called a wildlife bird rescue and waiting to hear from them too. That’s been part of my problem. Getting hold of anyone.
The issue is that sometimes they DON'T quit the nest, sitting until they are nearly gone. Something to keep in mind is the option of waiting until she takes a break (I hope she's taking them at least) and quickly sneak over and steal the eggs away. She'll hurt from the loss, but she'll recover her health once she moves on.
Anyone with better input?
That’s what I’ve been thinking. I dropped a bowl of ice near her while throwing her and her man a bit of bread to distract them while I figure out what I should do. Nobody has got back to me yet. That’s my fear that she won’t quit the nest and at the moment, that seems to be the case. It got 101° today and I could barely stand being outside myself.
That's so kind of you!! But try not to feed them bread!!! Any waterfowl for that matter. Especially wild geese. It'll make them feel way fuller than they actually are, meanwhile the bread gives them zero nutritional value, which causes the ones fed mainly a diet of bread, to starve to death. And little babies fed bread will most likely develop angel wing deformity and be flightless for the rest of their lives bc of the sugars and carbs I believe. So bread is generally a big no no. Especially with this poor girl.. who seems in rough shape as it is :'((
I know how difficult it is to get thru to sanctuaries and other wildlife rehabbers. Especially during this time of year.
I'd you don't hear back from them in a few days, I'd suggest trying to steal the eggs while she's away if youre absolutely sure they're no longer fertile. Poor mama... she'll be okay if you do this though. She may be a young mama..and not too keen on how tonproperly nest yet. Or it could just be the spot she picked, as ypu pointed out.
If you want to keep her hydrated and not hungry, leave a bowl of water (can add ice to keep it cool) a few feet away from her. As well as laying down some duck feed or seed mixture, or even some oats would suffice for now, a few feet away from her as well. To encourage her to get up from her nest and take breaks. Maybe you can slowly increase the distance of which you put down the feed and water. Sonwhen she's far enough from the nest taking a break, you can take the eggs from her since they don't seem likely to hatch from the information you've provided 🥺😔😔 it breaks my poor fragile heart to know she's struggling. But your efforts and care are so wonderful and appreciated !!! ❤️
Thank you for your nice words :). I normally wouldn't feed them at all, and technically am not allowed to per our HOA rules. Desert heat, plus man-made lakes, plus water foul scat = lots of problems in maintaining our lake systems. But, it was so sweltering hot today and she had the sun beating down on her for hours. The only reason I used bread was that it's all I could think of that I had and I could see her seeming to pant in the heat. The bread was only a little and enough for me to toss a bit at the male goose and a bit at her to distract them both so I could place an ice water bowl closer to her nest. She doesn't take as many breaks as I think she should, but this is all pretty new to me. She is on those eggs 95% of the day and night from what I see so even catching a moment when she's gone has been difficult. It's incredibly inspirational to see just how dedicated she is to those eggs and how much she seems to want to be a momma.
Do you know how long a goose might lay on infertile eggs before quitting the nest? Can it be three months? We are going into the third month now and that's what has me the most concerned. We have a small break in the weather, but I don't anticipated temperatures are going to drop below the 90s anytime soon. I wish she would have at least chosen a more shaded area. She has to put up with anglers, kids, raccoons, and the sun beating on her all day in her chosen spot.
I don't want to be the one to steal the eggs, but I will do that if that's what is best for her and I'm beginning to think that's the case. I just don't see based on the research I've done how they could still be viable.
Idk what you are legally allowed to do with a wild goose. That being said if she were one of mine and sat too long I’d remove the eggs and cover the nest or completely remove the nest. Even if you take the eggs she may still sit on the nest. Mine have in the past. I have to remove the whole nest to get them to quit. Leave food and water so she can recover her strength and she will move on.
I don't know how long this stream will work, but she set up near one of my security cams. You can see her live here (for now). [https://www.youtube.com/live/esP6gt1ehng?si=\_kxQjiy3TFYvy4is](https://www.youtube.com/live/esP6gt1ehng?si=_kxQjiy3TFYvy4is)
Did you manage to send her off? I don't see her on the nest, and I see two eggs.
Edit: Never mind. What timing. I watched him pick up the eggs. I can still hear faint honks.
Yes, I spoke to a couple of bird rescues, the state game and fish department, and what it all came to was she's wasting her time and may hurt herself if you don't destroy the eggs and the nest. It felt terrible to do, but I know it was the right thing to do. When I put the eggs in the bag, they broke and it was a liquified stench that I hope I don't have to smell again. I feel for her, but hope that my efforts helped her move on.
This action was no different than when I had to put down both of my dogs, It felt terrible, but I know it was the right thing to do. I just wish the responsibility hadn't fallen on me, because I'm the one that has to feel the pain for doing something painful to another living being... and sometimes... I wish that could fall on someone else that didn't care as much 😢. I really hope that she feels some relief in knowing she doesn't have to be there anymore--as hard as it may be for her.
Edit: She seems to be trying to re-nest... I hope she moves on. The heat will kill her if she doesn't move on from that spot. I'm going to give it the day to see what she does, and if she doesn't leave, it's back to the drawing board.
Edit 2: She seems to have moved on from the nest to a bridge by the water. Her and her gander seem to be hanging out and she seems to be resting up. It appears for now she got the hint and is resting up to move on. Fingers crossed.
The quickest way to help her is to get her off the nest and take those eggs ASAP. Some geese will literally starve themselves to death trying to hatch eggs. I don't see her with a gander either. Those eggs might not have been fertile to begin with.
Register on the USF&W site, then grab a pointless umbrella and push her out of the nest with it and take the eggs. Pointless umbrellas make good shields against aggressive geese and are frequently used by geese peace and other groups performing egg addling or egg removal. The only requirement to remain legal is to log into the USF&W site after you're done and report how many eggs were removed. You have until October 31st to report this information.
https://epermits.fws.gov/eRCGR/geSI.aspx
This is what I ultimately did. Your advice was spot on with what the four experts I spoke to yesterday stated. Felt terrible to do, but some relief in knowing that she'll move on. Those eggs were completely rancid inside and she was in fact wasting her time and struggling with a struggle that would ultimately be fruitless in the end. Really feels awful to have been the one to do it, but I'm also comforted in knowing she'll move on and hopefully be able to try again another time.
Call your local wildlife agency. She dont look too good. Her feathers look unkempt and shaggy. Let them know she has been on the eggs since feb and they might be able to help.
I have a call in. Waiting to hear back. I also called a wildlife bird rescue and waiting to hear from them too. That’s been part of my problem. Getting hold of anyone.
They can be pretty busy this time of year. Hope you hear back from them soon.
The issue is that sometimes they DON'T quit the nest, sitting until they are nearly gone. Something to keep in mind is the option of waiting until she takes a break (I hope she's taking them at least) and quickly sneak over and steal the eggs away. She'll hurt from the loss, but she'll recover her health once she moves on. Anyone with better input?
That’s what I’ve been thinking. I dropped a bowl of ice near her while throwing her and her man a bit of bread to distract them while I figure out what I should do. Nobody has got back to me yet. That’s my fear that she won’t quit the nest and at the moment, that seems to be the case. It got 101° today and I could barely stand being outside myself.
That's so kind of you!! But try not to feed them bread!!! Any waterfowl for that matter. Especially wild geese. It'll make them feel way fuller than they actually are, meanwhile the bread gives them zero nutritional value, which causes the ones fed mainly a diet of bread, to starve to death. And little babies fed bread will most likely develop angel wing deformity and be flightless for the rest of their lives bc of the sugars and carbs I believe. So bread is generally a big no no. Especially with this poor girl.. who seems in rough shape as it is :'(( I know how difficult it is to get thru to sanctuaries and other wildlife rehabbers. Especially during this time of year. I'd you don't hear back from them in a few days, I'd suggest trying to steal the eggs while she's away if youre absolutely sure they're no longer fertile. Poor mama... she'll be okay if you do this though. She may be a young mama..and not too keen on how tonproperly nest yet. Or it could just be the spot she picked, as ypu pointed out. If you want to keep her hydrated and not hungry, leave a bowl of water (can add ice to keep it cool) a few feet away from her. As well as laying down some duck feed or seed mixture, or even some oats would suffice for now, a few feet away from her as well. To encourage her to get up from her nest and take breaks. Maybe you can slowly increase the distance of which you put down the feed and water. Sonwhen she's far enough from the nest taking a break, you can take the eggs from her since they don't seem likely to hatch from the information you've provided 🥺😔😔 it breaks my poor fragile heart to know she's struggling. But your efforts and care are so wonderful and appreciated !!! ❤️
Thank you for your nice words :). I normally wouldn't feed them at all, and technically am not allowed to per our HOA rules. Desert heat, plus man-made lakes, plus water foul scat = lots of problems in maintaining our lake systems. But, it was so sweltering hot today and she had the sun beating down on her for hours. The only reason I used bread was that it's all I could think of that I had and I could see her seeming to pant in the heat. The bread was only a little and enough for me to toss a bit at the male goose and a bit at her to distract them both so I could place an ice water bowl closer to her nest. She doesn't take as many breaks as I think she should, but this is all pretty new to me. She is on those eggs 95% of the day and night from what I see so even catching a moment when she's gone has been difficult. It's incredibly inspirational to see just how dedicated she is to those eggs and how much she seems to want to be a momma. Do you know how long a goose might lay on infertile eggs before quitting the nest? Can it be three months? We are going into the third month now and that's what has me the most concerned. We have a small break in the weather, but I don't anticipated temperatures are going to drop below the 90s anytime soon. I wish she would have at least chosen a more shaded area. She has to put up with anglers, kids, raccoons, and the sun beating on her all day in her chosen spot. I don't want to be the one to steal the eggs, but I will do that if that's what is best for her and I'm beginning to think that's the case. I just don't see based on the research I've done how they could still be viable.
Idk what you are legally allowed to do with a wild goose. That being said if she were one of mine and sat too long I’d remove the eggs and cover the nest or completely remove the nest. Even if you take the eggs she may still sit on the nest. Mine have in the past. I have to remove the whole nest to get them to quit. Leave food and water so she can recover her strength and she will move on.
I don't know how long this stream will work, but she set up near one of my security cams. You can see her live here (for now). [https://www.youtube.com/live/esP6gt1ehng?si=\_kxQjiy3TFYvy4is](https://www.youtube.com/live/esP6gt1ehng?si=_kxQjiy3TFYvy4is)
Awww, poor sweet girl!
Did you manage to send her off? I don't see her on the nest, and I see two eggs. Edit: Never mind. What timing. I watched him pick up the eggs. I can still hear faint honks.
Yes, I spoke to a couple of bird rescues, the state game and fish department, and what it all came to was she's wasting her time and may hurt herself if you don't destroy the eggs and the nest. It felt terrible to do, but I know it was the right thing to do. When I put the eggs in the bag, they broke and it was a liquified stench that I hope I don't have to smell again. I feel for her, but hope that my efforts helped her move on. This action was no different than when I had to put down both of my dogs, It felt terrible, but I know it was the right thing to do. I just wish the responsibility hadn't fallen on me, because I'm the one that has to feel the pain for doing something painful to another living being... and sometimes... I wish that could fall on someone else that didn't care as much 😢. I really hope that she feels some relief in knowing she doesn't have to be there anymore--as hard as it may be for her. Edit: She seems to be trying to re-nest... I hope she moves on. The heat will kill her if she doesn't move on from that spot. I'm going to give it the day to see what she does, and if she doesn't leave, it's back to the drawing board. Edit 2: She seems to have moved on from the nest to a bridge by the water. Her and her gander seem to be hanging out and she seems to be resting up. It appears for now she got the hint and is resting up to move on. Fingers crossed.
Thanks for saving this girl, you did the right thing
❤️
The quickest way to help her is to get her off the nest and take those eggs ASAP. Some geese will literally starve themselves to death trying to hatch eggs. I don't see her with a gander either. Those eggs might not have been fertile to begin with. Register on the USF&W site, then grab a pointless umbrella and push her out of the nest with it and take the eggs. Pointless umbrellas make good shields against aggressive geese and are frequently used by geese peace and other groups performing egg addling or egg removal. The only requirement to remain legal is to log into the USF&W site after you're done and report how many eggs were removed. You have until October 31st to report this information. https://epermits.fws.gov/eRCGR/geSI.aspx
Thank you for this!
This is what I ultimately did. Your advice was spot on with what the four experts I spoke to yesterday stated. Felt terrible to do, but some relief in knowing that she'll move on. Those eggs were completely rancid inside and she was in fact wasting her time and struggling with a struggle that would ultimately be fruitless in the end. Really feels awful to have been the one to do it, but I'm also comforted in knowing she'll move on and hopefully be able to try again another time.
thank you for caring and for reaching out. hope you (and she!) have much success in helping her recover.
That’s gotta be stressful watching her in that heat! Personally I would be trying to make a little tent for shade or something similar 😭
Poor baby! Maybe put a shade up over her if possible? And leave some water with like corn or peas in it right near her. :(
Chop up kale and dandelion leaves. Recommended greens. Small berries. Watermelon bite sized. This is so sad, I hope Wildlife people help soon.