When do geese leave Wisconsin?

Canada Geese never fully leave Wisconsin: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by late May, but some are still reported in every week, about 11% of checklists at the low.

When is the best time to see geese in Wisconsin?

The Canada Goose is reported most often in mid March, on about 57% of Wisconsin checklists.

Which geese are in Wisconsin?

Canada Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose, Cackling Goose, and Snow Goose are reported regularly; the Canada Goose is the most common.

4 goose species in Wisconsin

When Do Geese Arrive in Wisconsin?

Photo: Tser, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Canada Geese, Greater White-fronted Geese, and Cackling Geese are the geese you are most likely to see in Wisconsin. Canada Geese are in Wisconsin all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from late February, peak in mid March (57% of checklists), and fall back by late May. In the quietest week (early July) they are still on about 11% of checklists.

When to look

Numbers buildFeb 22-28late February

PeakMar 15-21mid March

Fall back byMay 22-31late May

FewestJul 1-7early July

Best: mid March. Here all year; numbers build from late February and fall back by late May. Peak: on about 57% of Wisconsin checklists.

Jancommon
Febcommon
Marpeak season
Aprpeak season
Maypeak season
Juncommon
Juluncommon
Augcommon
Sepcommon
Octcommon
Novcommon
Deccommon

Darker months: more checklists report it. Outlined: peak month.

Geese in Wisconsin, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Canada Goose	Feb 22-28	Feb 22-28	Mar 15-21	May 22-31	57%
Greater White-fronted Goose	Feb 15-21	Feb 15-21	Mar 8-14	Mar 22-31	5.2%
Cackling Goose	Feb 8-14	Feb 8-14	Mar 8-14	Apr 8-14	2.4%
Snow Goose	Feb 8-14	Feb 8-14	Mar 8-14	Apr 15-21	1.7%

Canada Goose
Greater White-fronted Goose
Cackling Goose
Snow Goose

Share of complete checklists reporting each species, by week (4 per month). Gaps: fewer than 10 checklists that week.

Frequency is the share of complete checklists in Wisconsin that listed the bird, 2016–2025. It is not a head count, and it follows where and when people go birding. How to read it.

Where in Wisconsin

Best counties for Canada Goose

Share of checklists at the peak

Dodge CountyBest the second week of March · 682 checklists that week, 34,980 in all82%
Columbia CountyBest mid March · 638 checklists that week, 15,761 in all79%
Kewaunee CountyBest the second week of March · 210 checklists that week, 9,747 in all76%
Green CountyBest the second week of March · 89 checklists that week, 4,387 in all73%
Fond du Lac CountyBest mid March · 776 checklists that week, 32,349 in all72%
Adams CountyBest mid March · 87 checklists that week, 5,946 in all72%

Common questions

When do geese arrive in Wisconsin?: Canada Geese are in Wisconsin all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from late February, peak in mid March (57% of checklists), and fall back by late May. In the quietest week (early July) they are still on about 11% of checklists.
When do geese leave Wisconsin?: Canada Geese never fully leave Wisconsin: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by late May, but some are still reported in every week, about 11% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see geese in Wisconsin?: The Canada Goose is reported most often in mid March, on about 57% of Wisconsin checklists.
Which geese are in Wisconsin?: Canada Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose, Cackling Goose, and Snow Goose are reported regularly; the Canada Goose is the most common.