USGS Home
Contact USGS
Search USGS

Disturbances on roosting areas resulted in increased separation of family members of Canada geese in 1979 may have contributed to the large number of family members shot that year. The cohesiveness of family groups was affected after a family member was shot. Family (after hunting losses) and random groups used the same roosting areas less as the season advanced. Intact family groups used the same roosting areas at the same rate throughout the season. A disintegration of family structure appears to be related to the extent of disturbance and hunting pressure present during the years of this study.