Canada geese aren?t exactly a rare sight in Central Idaho, but they are particularly noticeable in the spring when, as pairs, they are protective of their nesting sites. ?They?re plentiful at this stage in the game,? said Bruce Palmer, a wildlife biologist with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. ?Some people refer to them as flying rats. They?re pretty abundant and becoming more abundant. They?re pretty adaptable.? Spring is when they mate. ?They?ll start getting kind of territorial in March,? Palmer said. ?They?re pretty defensive of areas where they?ve nested before, particularly to other geese.? Curiously, in June, adult Canada geese begin to shed their feathers. About a month later, when goslings are nearly full grown, adults and goslings molt their feathers. That means new feathers push the old feathers out, like human teeth. ?The juveniles will look just like mom and dad, maybe a little bit smaller,? Palmer said. Photo by David N. Seelig