Take a gander at the Little Arkansas River’s newest residents

The banks of the Little Arkansas River and the surrounding parks are teeming with little yellow and gray fuzzballs: baby Canada geese.

The geese are permanent residents of the area and are not the migratory populations that some people think of, said Jim Mason, director of the Great Plains Nature Center.

Canada geese first established residence here in the early 1980s, Mason said, as part of an “urban goose phenomenon.”

Canada geese populations in Wichita have consistently grown since 2002. The most recent urban goose survey, in 2013, showed the population at 3,470, but Mason suspects it is higher now.

With growing goose populations in urban areas, there are mixed opinions about their presence.

“Some people think they’re cute, but others think they eat all the grass and leave little green cigars behind that aren’t too pleasant,” Mason said.

The incubation period for the geese is 28 days, with the average clutch, or group, being five or six.

Mason thinks hatching may be a little early this year, which could be because of the mild winter and warm days so far this spring.

When you see a goose family – or any wildlife – try not to invade their personal space, Mason said.

If they hiss and spread their wings, you’ve probably gotten too close.

“They have really strong family bonds,” Mason said.

“During the brooding season, each family unit will be by themselves. Once the youngsters get older, they blend into mixed groups where the youngsters get together and form a mob of teenage geese and hang out together. The adults don’t seem to mind that.”

This story was originally published April 22, 2016 at 3:20 PM with the headline "Take a gander at the Little Arkansas River’s newest residents."