Do Hawks Attack and Eat Geese? [Answered]

Hawks are birds of prey and pretty formidable ones at that. Chances are you have probably seen a hawk flying around in your life. They are very common birds. The same goes to geese, which you have probably not only seen but heard because of the stereotypical honking sound.

Both these birds exist in the same environment, but unlike hawks, geese are not birds of prey. This could put geese in danger because hawks are birds of prey. In this article, we will find out once and for all if hawks eat geese and could be a danger to them.

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Do Hawks Eat Geese?

Yes, hawks do attack geese because they are birds of prey which makes them to many predators in the animal kingdom. If circumstances are in their favor, the hawk will have no problem hunting a goose. This is especially true if the goose is alone and vulnerable. A hawk could definitely take one down.

Now a goose is a very aggressive bird, so it’s not going to go down without a fight, but the odds are in the hawk’s favor.

The hawk might hesitate if there is a flock of geese, and they are alone. However, given that they are birds of prey they still might go for it. Whether they succeed is up in the air.

What Else Do Hawks Eat?

Mostly, hawks prefer to eat smaller mammals and other small animals. They are carnivorous so all they eat is meat. Thanks to their great eyesight and high soaring ability, these small animals really do not stand a chance at avoiding a hawk.

Hawks eat mammals like mice, rats, rabbits, chipmunks, squirrels, and gophers. However, this is not all they eat. They will also eat fish, insects, lizards, frogs, and snakes. These are all much smaller than geese so as you can see, their typical diet does not include a goose so geese should be safe —mostly.

Do Hawks Attack Geese?

If a hawk is hungry and the goose looks like easy pickings, then they absolutely will go after the goose. They will attack the goose with the intention of the goose becoming their next meal. So, a hawk can absolutely attack a goose in the wild.

Another interesting way hawks can attack geese is through falconry or hawking. Basically, a bird of prey is trained by a hunter to hunt wild animals in their natural habitat. If they are attacking a goose, after being permitted to attack a goose by their trainer, they then bring it back to the hunter.

Are Hawks a Danger to Geese?

Hawks are a danger to geese in the sense that they will hunt them if they are hungry or being used in falconry. However, their lives are not at risk of being attacked all the time, say like a smaller animal like a squirrel or something. Geese still do need to be somewhat on their guard because hawks can take advantage.

Remember that geese are very aggressive and territorial. Ask any person who has gotten themselves chased by a furious goose. Geese will give hawks a decent fight so sometimes it might just be easier for the hawk to find something smaller and less aggressive.

hawks-flying

Can a Hawk Pick up Geese?

A hawk can absolutely pick up a goose with its talons and fly off with it. Hawks can pick up about 4 to 5 pounds of weight and fly off with it. Now this is usually for those on the average to small size. If we are talking about a large hawk, then they can fly off with an animal that is under 12 pounds.

The average weight of a male goose is between 8 to 14 pounds and 7 to 12 pounds for a female goose. This makes the goose in the weight range of what a hawk can pick up and fly off with.

What are the Natural Predators of Geese?

Unfortunately, geese do have a lot of natural predators. However, it depends on what the age of the goose is.

  • Goose eggs are preyed upon by like raccoons, skinks, foxes, crows, and snakes eat them.
  • For goslings, snapping turtles, bobcats, hawks, coyotes, and raccoons prey on them.
  • Adult geese are at risk of coyotes, bobcats, and people.

Geese are a popular type of bird for humans to hunt and unlike animals, they do not always do it for food. Some do it simply for sport, which can be an issue because of humans causing some animals to go extinct.

How do You Protect Geese From Predators?

One way to keep geese safe from predators, which include hawks, is to have a predator proof enclosure or make sure there is a secure fence around the area. You could also use an electric wire fence, if need be, but always exercise safety when putting up such a thing.

Now fences will keep land animals out. To protect them from hawks might require keeping them in some enclosure with a covering if possible.

These will work if you decide to have domesticated geese. For geese in the wild, it can be a little tricker because nature is gonna nature. However, if you have them as pets there is a way to protect them with our suggestions above.

Final Thoughts

And there you have it, folks. You have learned that hawks are birds of prey and can attack geese if the opportunity arises. If they are hungry and they can take down a goose with little trouble, then they will. However, geese are not their usual target for food.

Could geese ever be a danger to a hawk? Probably not given the type of bird a hawk is compared to a goose, but an aggressive goose could probably do some amount of damage if they really wanted too.

Frequently Asked Questions

We covered everything there is to know about hawks and whether they are dangerous. Here are some extra questions you may want some answers to surrounding the topics of hawks and geese.

What family do Hawks belong to?

Hawks belong to the Accipitridae family, which is home to the type of  birds that have hooked bills and mostly predators. Two subfamilies are Accipitridae, which are considered being true hawks. The other family is called buteo in America but buzzards in other parts of the world. They are different from the other subfamily because of their shorter tails, larger wings, and tendency to pounce on prey.

What family do Geese belong to?

Geese belong to the Anatidae family, which are home to water birds like ducks, geese, and swans. For geese in particular, the grey geese, white geese, and black geese are the ones that are considered different species of geese.

One of the interesting things about geese is how similar they look to other birds in their family. They are all loosely related, but still look very similar, unlike animals. This includes shelducks, swans (which are actually bigger than geese so let’s see a hawk take that down), and ducks (much smaller than geese so a hawk could probably take them down.

Where can you find Hawks?

Hawks are birds that are found all over the planet interestingly enough. The only continent they can’t be found on is Antarctica for obvious reasons. It’s a little too cold for these birds to even try to live there.

In the United States, there are specifically some hawks that you would find here rather than in other countries. This includes red-tailed hawks, which are the ones who are the most common in North America. Other hawks are sharp-shinned hawk, cooper’s hawk, Northern Goshawk, Red-shouldered hawk, and this is just a short list of all the different hawks that can be found on just North America alone!

Where can you find Geese?

Geese can be found all throughout North America. This includes the United States, Canada, and even Northern Mexico. They can even be found in the arctic. For habitats, they tend to live around areas like marshes, lakes, and ponds.

What do Geese eat?

Geese tend to eat grass, seeds, and other foods that would fall into a vegetarian diet. Mostly, geese are herbivores because they eat grass, seeds, nuts, and berries. Sometimes, they could eat insects and fish, but it depends on the type of goose we are talking about. However, it does depend on the type of goose because remember that not all animals are the same. Even if they are from the same family, you are going to find some differences.

Geese tend to eat grass, seeds, and other foods that would fall into a vegetarian diet. Mostly, geese are herbivores because they eat grass, seeds, nuts, and berries. Sometimes, they could eat insects and fish, but it depends on the type of goose we are talking about. However, it does depend on the type of goose because remember that not all animals are the same. Even if they are from the same family, you are going to find some differences.

Disclaimer: This blog should not be considered as being professional pet medical advice. The content published on this blog is for informational purposes only. Please always consult with a licensed and local veterinarian for medical advice.

About Shaun Clarke

Shaun is passionate about pets and animals, especially dogs, cats, and rabbits. He owns a dog and a couple of cats too. He loves visiting wildlife sanctuaries and shares a strong bond with animals. When he is not writing, he loves to do a barbecue in the backyard with his family and friends.