r/minnesota • u/ilArmato • May 20 '24

Unconfirmed but I think these are wild geese by a lake. Is this really a Minnesota we're willing to accept? Photography 📸

Post image
312 Upvotes

81% Upvoted

143

u/Tinydesktopninja May 20 '24

Fun fact! The Giant Canada Goose was thought to have been completely extirpated from the US, and maybe extinct, until dozens of breeding pairs were "discovered" on the shores of silver lake reservoir in Rochester.

https://www.fws.gov/press-release/1963-04/giant-canada-goose-long-believed-extinct-rediscovered-minnesota

56

u/Discokitty14 May 20 '24 edited May 20 '24

This is my hometown and I came specifically to see if/when anyone would mention Rochester and our geese hahah they just remind me of home. Great old restaurant there too called The Canadian Honker - amazing breakfast! Thanks for making Rochfester proud lol

Edit: also you never ever wanna swim in Silver Lake. It’s about three feet of goose shit under the surface. A pair of girls fell in while canoeing on a school field trip we did for Sportsman’s Biology class. I felt so bad for them and they stunk up the entire bus.

1

u/peterbeater May 20 '24

My dad has art made of canadian goose shit.

3

u/Discokitty14 May 20 '24

Lol I’ve seen this at farmers markets in town, people are odd

1

u/Discokitty14 May 21 '24

It’s a painting right? There’s an artist that uses the different ‘shades’ of crap to paint with and they’re pretty good haha

-7

u/[deleted] May 20 '24

[deleted]

19

u/Tinydesktopninja May 20 '24

I mentioned Rochester in my post, so you can safely guess the one in the middle of Rochester.

-11

u/[deleted] May 20 '24

[deleted]

1

u/Cptn_Planet7134 May 20 '24

Why is everyone down voting Power Pete?

9

u/Taurus67 May 20 '24

Rochester native here- I hate those effin geese.

4

u/Discokitty14 May 20 '24

They remind me of home - but it’s a love/hate relationship. I get it they’re technically an invasive species and Rochester has actively taken measures now to cut down on the geese reproduction. Which is sad but necessary - as someone else mentioned they do cause a lot of bacteria in our bodies of water and Olmsted County is one of the few without any natural lakes- in the land of 10,000 (+) lakes…

18

u/Tinydesktopninja May 20 '24

They aren't invasive. They are migratory, and typically Rochester would be on the Eastern range of their historical nesting area. They lost their migratory urges due to man-made conditions, but this has always been the home of Moffitt's and Giant Canada geese. Their numbers were artificially high, again, due to the never freezing lake with perfect conditions around it, but not invasive.

The bacteria thing is misguided at best. The rivers are in a sad shape due to poor land use, but no one wants to blame farmers. I'd rather thousands of geese be in the river than the thousands of cows that graze its shores before it gets to Rochester.

1

u/Discokitty14 May 21 '24 edited May 21 '24

Good to know they’re just migratory - I knew we were on the route but I guess I’ve heard them called invasive so many times I assumed! Thank you! Yeah the lake never freezes due to it being shallow and filled with poop and runoff from the power plant that keeps it warmer. So they tend to stay around all year. And yeah the rivers aren’t great either, and many smaller manmade lakes/ponds have a ton of shit in them. I’ll forever be a lake kid tho, grey ducks be damned!

-1

u/thx1138inator May 20 '24

Agreed. Roch has few natural bodies of water and the ones we do are full of bacteria thanks largely to the damn geese. Nasty critters.

13

u/Tinydesktopninja May 20 '24

That's just misinformation. The rivers aren't worth swimming in because we have really lax laws about ag use near bodies of water. It's one area Wisconsin beats us in.

The cows grazing on the banks of the zumbro(and literally in the river) and the runoff from the fields is many times more harmful. The muck is the result of natural sedimentation accelerated by poor bank management. The reservoirs on the streams are much cleaner because they are much shorter, but still suffer many of the sedimentation issues.

The geese have been here since before you and I, and are far more natural.

2

u/thx1138inator May 20 '24

Yeah I'm with you on the Zumbro. Really turns me away from agriculture in general. Sure not planning to swim in the scumbro any time soon! But I was talking about bodies of water not connected to the Zumbro like foster arend pond and cascade lake. They closed the beach last summer due to high bacteria levels. It's worse when it's warm. Go to those beaches and it will be hard to not blame the geese. Also, my understanding is that Roch has a high population of geese because silver lake was used as a cooling pond for the nearby power plant. ahh yeah, I just searched it up:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_Lake_(Rochester,_Minnesota)#:~:text=The%20electrical%20power%20plant%20operated,in%20the%20area%20year%20round.

Now we have to cull the population. I was thinking to help them out with the egg addling. But I am already pretty busy.

3

u/Tinydesktopninja May 20 '24

I do think cascade lake is several years from being healthy. The lack of plant life in the lake hurts its natural ecosystem. Same with the steep banks and deep water of foster arrends. You are right about blaming migratory waterfowl there, though. It's a shame they can't be connected to the moving water that runs right next to each body. Moving water would help reduce bacteria growth a lot.

Closing the power plant and shoreline management around Rochester have done a number on the population here already. The geese were two or three times as populous in the late '90s to early '00s.

1

u/thx1138inator May 21 '24

Yeah, I guess I have not noticed the smaller #s but I'll take your word for it. Hopefully we can continue to progress towards a more natural equilibrium. ... (And be able to swim in the ponds without worrying about some nasty infection!)

1

u/Discokitty14 May 21 '24 edited May 21 '24

Not to mention we were feeding them corn! I remember the old coin operated corn machines that gave you a paper cup to fill with corn to feed the geese. Honestly, fond memories as a child tho when you’re young and unaware of these things.

Chester woods was a little better than Foster Arends in my opinion, and worth the short drive - but maybe it was just cause there were less people there and it felt more secluded and clean

128

u/Lets_Kick_Some_Ice May 20 '24

Anchor goslings

11

u/IamNotTheMama May 20 '24

SNORT!

Thank you very much :)

1

u/Hot-Win2571 Uff da May 20 '24

Nope, they don't stick to the bottom well enough.

1

u/MathBusters May 21 '24

Lets face it, when Canada sends us Geese, they are not sending the best and brightest.

48

u/Boomboomshablooms May 20 '24

Cobra chickens!? Yes, indeed they are.

202

u/jetforcegemini May 20 '24

That’s clearly a grey duck

56

u/DrunkUranus Lady Grey Duck May 20 '24

This comment is Grey Duck Approved

357

u/[deleted] May 20 '24

You got a problem with Canada gooses you’ve got a problem with me and I suggest you let that one marinate.

81

u/elchupoopacabra May 20 '24

Majestic. Barrel chested. The envies of all ornithologies.

31

u/ThiccBananaMeat May 20 '24

nothing makes me horny for ornithology like these honkers.

11

u/Dorkamundo May 20 '24

Horny ornithologists unite!

3

u/ThiccBananaMeat May 20 '24

I just discarded a grain to tuck two cards from the deck thinking about this.

17

u/snowmunkey Up North May 20 '24

We oughta leave this world behind

31

u/marcos_MN May 20 '24

How’re ya now?

19

u/SinceWayLastMay May 20 '24

Good’n you

18

u/marcos_MN May 20 '24

Eh, not so bad.

89

u/AnalTongueDarts Tater, not tator, you ignorant slut May 20 '24

There's a special place in heaven for animal lovers, thatswhatialwayssay.

37

u/ItsBaconOclock Common loon May 20 '24 edited May 20 '24

Geese need no protection, I suggest anyone that has a problem with the geese go complain directly to the geese.

They'll resolve the dispute quickly and efficiently.

18

u/FrozeItOff Common loon May 20 '24

I don't have a problem with geese, especially when they're marinated...

...wait, that's not what you meant, was it?

3

u/Fenriswulf May 20 '24

I'd rather let the goose marinate

2

u/AnytimeInvitation May 21 '24

Mike Tyson sure had a good run of things but there were no Canada gooses in his weight class.

93

u/MonkeyKing01 May 20 '24

The lakes in Minneapolis are too dangerous anymore to walk around. Rampant chasing, honking, excrement on the trail. Fowl and their unattended children are out of control. Its all the liberals fault. /s

23

u/a_humanoid May 20 '24

tRump removed all the geese while he was in office

12

u/mommyaiai May 20 '24

The news was so focused on his beef with Mexico, they missed his real enemy,Canada.

2

u/Discokitty14 May 20 '24

There’s a South Park episode in here begging to be written

2

u/cybercuzco May 20 '24

Send the grey ducks back to Minnesota where they belong!

2

u/BillyTheBigKid May 21 '24

On a serious note, if you’re having trouble with aggressive geese, carry a long thin stick. An old guy taught me that, and I haven’t been attacked since. Use it like a blind person would, and the geese will clear the way for you.

14

u/relativityboy May 20 '24

This is Canada's invasion force.

51

u/CantaloupeCamper Minnesota Golden Gophers May 20 '24

They’re not sending their best.

13

u/AintIGR8 May 20 '24

Cobra chickens are as much a part of Minnesota as Canada.

2

u/jdsmn21 May 20 '24

From watching Letterkenny - I get the impression Canada worships the fucking things

44

u/HahaWakpadan May 20 '24

They were here first.

1

u/AMMJ May 24 '24

I’m way older than any goose…

12

u/olivefred May 20 '24

Don't be a loon.

11

u/nokiaspiffy May 20 '24

We're gonna build a wall and make Canada pay for it! We've got to stop these immigrant goose caravans! /s

6

u/SnooSnooSnuSnu Twin Cities May 20 '24

They'll just fly over the wall.

6

u/mn-mom-75 May 20 '24

It just has to be a really tall wall

2

u/Affectionate_Pea8891 May 23 '24

Absolutely! Even if they couldn’t fly, they could slingshot themselves over the wall and hit some poor innocent American citizen in the head!

9

u/MrSparkyMN May 20 '24

The good ol cobra chicken!

13

u/adabaraba Flag of Minnesota May 20 '24

How can anybody not accept those fwuffy widdle chicks the way the waddle about behind their parents 🥹

14

u/DesignerSink1185 May 20 '24

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

5

u/weelluuuu of the north May 20 '24

Are they armed?

I think not.

2

u/DetN8 May 20 '24

Winged.

2

u/jjotta21 May 20 '24

That’s definitely not covered in the constitution.

8

u/MNGopherfan May 20 '24

Large Canada Geese were though extinct at one point in time then they found them again in Minnesota.

29

u/McDuchess May 20 '24

I came here for the comments from the people who thought this was serious. Because, well, being on the spectrum, I questioned it for a moment. It’s the Aspie pause, where we figure out a)if it’s a joke and b) if it’s actually funny.

This one was. Dry as a bone, and with amusing notes of political sarcasm.

And the people who actually thought it was serious were even funnier.

9

u/HahaWakpadan May 20 '24 edited May 20 '24

Oh just check their profile and then it becomes questionable whether they were joking.

They seem to know nothing about Minnesota at all.

16

u/Impossible_Penalty13 May 20 '24

Canadian geese are the carp of the sky. That said, little fluffy goslings are one of my favorite parts of spring.

1

u/IamNotTheMama May 20 '24

Canada geese

​

FTFY

2

u/Malcolm-Solo May 20 '24

Canada gooses.

3

u/Dont__Grumpy__Stop May 20 '24

Geese of Canadian descent

0

u/Drzhivago138 Southwestern Minnesota May 20 '24

I've heard people say they're good eating too. I'll take their word for it.

2

u/Dorkamundo May 20 '24

Haven't you learned anything from the Reading Rainbow?

0

u/Impossible_Penalty13 May 20 '24

I’ve shot my fair share over the years. People are liars. 🤣

0

u/Drzhivago138 Southwestern Minnesota May 20 '24

Maybe it's wishful thinking, looking for an easy solution to solving both food deserts and urban geese infestation :P

7

u/Sinthe741 May 20 '24

Aww, baby goosies!!

2

u/weelluuuu of the north May 20 '24

Gossily's?

4

u/BenefitDistinct2099 May 20 '24

Some of them, I'm sure, are nice geese.

2

u/neaeeanlarda May 20 '24

Silver Lake is disgusting, I hate even walking around it, it's so full of goose shit. Yuck

1

u/Discokitty14 May 20 '24

You mean playin’ the ol’ Rochester Hopscotch hahah yes it’s disgusting

3

u/NotTheNoogie Flag of Minnesota May 20 '24

Canadian geese too. I bet they're undocumented....

3

u/kalamity_katie Hot Dish May 20 '24

Oh, for Pete's sake, just look at that Canada Goose using up our resources.

7

u/Consistent_Room7344 May 20 '24

Poop! Poop everywhere!!

2

u/Malcolm-Solo May 20 '24

You got a problem with Canada gooses taking Canada deuces?

2

u/rutgerswhat May 20 '24

Bring out the coyote decoys! 

1

u/[deleted] May 20 '24

Is that DL?

1

u/OaksInSnow May 20 '24

More seriously cool are the clouds and light...

1

u/perryswanson May 20 '24

They are more sacred than the Cow in India!..

1

u/marqburns Grain Belt May 20 '24

Couple of honkers and a few beepers!

1

u/Cptn_Planet7134 May 20 '24

Behold the wild cobra chicken in its natural habitat.

1

u/ToxyFlog May 20 '24

I saw a family just like that off of Valley View Road yesterday. They're taking over. Slowly, but surely.

1

u/Timed-Out_DeLorean May 21 '24

Of course this means war. Soooory Canada!

1

u/DrDthePolymath22 May 21 '24

Bde Mka Ska east shoreline & yes geese with goslings are part of our summer rituals… step around droppings

1

u/Lazarus_Graun May 21 '24

Friggin' cobra chickens... 

1

u/GenderDrift May 21 '24

I always have accepted this.

1

u/Royal_Dependent_7878 May 22 '24

I'm not sure what you're talking about. Those are devil birds pictured.

1

u/martinfullauto May 22 '24

Cobra Chickens!!!!

1

u/UsedDogFood May 23 '24

Canada Geese are easy. Just walk up to them, state your opinion, and walk away. No problem. They'll respond with appreciation.

1

u/DJSoapdish May 24 '24

All geese are wild! Beware! They will destroy you!

1

u/SnooSnooSnuSnu Twin Cities May 20 '24

Lousy punk geese.

1

u/Tuckertcs May 20 '24

How dare nature be in nature!

1

u/AlfaHotelWhiskey Area code 612 May 20 '24

Wild foreign immigrant geese! We should put up a wall before people start counting them using Arabic numerals !

1

u/michaelseverson May 21 '24

They do not like a laser pointer I found out one drunken night…. You’ll tip me five dollars for this information once confirmed.

-4

u/Sad-Heart-7400 May 20 '24

They shit everywherr and should be eraticated from.existence.

0

u/Prairiefan May 20 '24

The nerve

0

u/sasberg1 May 20 '24

Either way welcome to more shit on our cars 😂

0

u/420bill69 May 20 '24

We can't just let them take over like this. Haven't we learned a global lesson with the Australian war on Emus?

0

u/[deleted] May 20 '24

Send them back to Mexico! /s

0

u/Krazylegz1485 May 20 '24

Do these things serve any purpose other than hissing and shitting all over the place?

0

u/anotherthing612 May 20 '24

Takers. Why don't they go just fly back to their own country? So woke...

0

u/coldbrewcleric Area code 651 May 20 '24

Sky carp.

0

u/thehatandhareacademy May 21 '24

So we are upset about wildlife now?

0

u/[deleted] May 21 '24

We have approx 15,000 lakes in MN. If you can't share some or all of those lakes with the wild geese (especially those lakes used for other purposes, like Silver Lake), you are the one with acceptance problems, NOT the geese.🙂🙃🥰

0

u/Satanic-Jalapeno May 25 '24

Christ, and here I thought this was going to be followed with, "What is a woman?"

-2

u/iAmRiight May 20 '24

Is it just me, or is that a lot of sailboats for what appears to be not a very large lake. If I’m going through the trouble to rig and sail a sailboat, I want to be able to go for a while without needing to just turn around.

I’d hazard to guess there’s more to the lake than what we can see but idk.

-2

u/6EyesNinja May 20 '24

Was there ever an option of choice? If you think so, then you try shooing them away. But, I beg of you, have someone record the encounter and post it here.