By Lowell Washburn
Iowa Department of Natural Resources

For Iowa’s homegrown Canada goose flock, the hatch is on. Weather-wise, it’s been a tough spring, and wildlife biologists are predicting an overall downturn in this year’s statewide goose production. The culprit, they say, is recent widespread flooding that destroyed large numbers of Canada goose nests.

“This spring, we received some very untimely rains that will certainly have a negative impact on this year’s goose hatch,” said DNR Waterfowl Biologist, Guy Zenner. “What’s really unfortunate is that the heavy rains and flooding occurred just a week before the peak hatch. If those rains would have held off for just a few days it would have given most birds time to hatch. The flooding would not have had near the impact on hatched goslings.”


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