Let’s see why?
Geese have natural predators, and there are several of them. Crows, magpies, gulls, and herons take goslings from the air. The ground attackers, however, are without a doubt the most dangerous threat.
Natural predators of geese have a much lower mortality rate than the number of geese on which they prey. The birds are constantly observed from the water’s edge and within the reeds. Adult geese are certainly vulnerable to being killed, as they graze on the bankside in the shadows. Vulpes vulpes, also known as “the red fox,” is their predator and mortal enemy.
I recently had an interesting firsthand encounter with some foxes who were clearly looking for a goose or two to eat. I heard a loud honking sound that I recognised as the goose distress call, which is especially used when the geese spot a predator and are in the presence of their goslings. The mallards on the pool were quick to respond with a collective braying quack. They weren’t alone on the pool, and the reeds were watching them.
While one fox remained on the bank, another ventured into the shallow water. It’s the first time I’ve seen this, despite the fact that foxes, like other domestic dogs, are excellent swimmers.
A flock of geese outwitted the fox
The geese began to coral themselves into a circle as it got deeper into the water, and the chief gander began to defiantly honk at the intruder.
This was no ordinary confrontation; it was a matter of life and death. If the geese had been on the reed side, the outcome would have been different. The fox then began to lower its body and head, much like geese do when they are in a threatening posture or trying to hide.
