Epic Battles: 1,000 Enraged Geese vs. 50 Wolves

Written by Kyle Glatz
Published: January 3, 2023
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Anyone that has incurred the wrath of geese at a public park can attest to their penchant for nasty attitudes. To be fair, hostility is expected when a larger animal encroaches on a smaller one, especially one with its young. While geese aren’t all that dangerous on their own, they can be troublesome in groups. Wolves are very dangerous to humans and many animals, whether alone or in a group. What if we stacked the odds and pitted the two against each other? Who would win a battle between 1,000 enraged geese vs. 50 wolves?

We’re going to explore this fight from several perspectives, showing you which creature is more likely to win. For the sake of this fight, we’re using information about the Canada goose and gray wolves. We’ll imagine this battle takes place on a large open expanse of land with all contestants on the ground at the outset of the fight. Let’s start unraveling this battle.

Comparing 1,000 Enraged Geese to 50 Wolves

1,000 Enraged Geese50 Wolves
SizeWeight: between 7 and 14 pounds
Length: between 2.5 and 3.5 feet
Wingspan: from 4.2 to 6.1 feet
Weight: usually weigh from 80 to 150 pounds
Length: grow between 3.5 and 5 feet long
Height: stand between 2 and 3 feet at their shoulder
Speed– Can fly 40 mph over long distances
– Maximum flight speed reaches 70 mph with a tailwind
– Running speed of 1-2 mph over short distances
– Top speed of 40 mph while running  
Defenses– Ability to take flight helps geese escape some predators
– Geese can swim very well, allowing them to travel to places where many terrestrial animals can’t reach them
– Flocks of geese can stick together and ward off some predators
– Their large packs protect them from other animals in most of their range
– They use their agility and speed to help them dodge attacks and outrun foes  
Offensive Capabilities– Geese have spiky barbs of cartilage that are not truly teeth
Their tomia could aid geese in delivering a painful but probably harmless bite
– Geese can also strike with their wings to drive off predators
– May use a threat display to make themselves look bigger and more powerful
– Wolves have canine teeth measuring up to 2.5 inches long
– Have a bite force between 400 and 1,000 PSI, depending on the study cited
– Often approach prey in groups, attacking their weak spots with several bites
– May also use their legs to pin prey
– Have somewhat short claws that aren’t nearly as dangerous as a bite
Predatory Behavior– Primarily herbivorous, but they also consume insects
– Lack of predator instincts and actions
– Use cursorial predation and elements of ambushing to kill large prey
– Prefer to wait until they can attack from an advantageous position

What Are Four Key Differences Between 1,000 Enraged Geese and 50 Wolves?

The key differences between 1,000 enraged geese and 50 wolves can be found in the number of participants, their morphology, size, and attack methods. We’ve already provided the number of each creature in this bout. Geese are waterfowl that weigh between 7 and 14 pounds and grow about 3.5 feet long, while wolves are large quadrupedal mammals that weigh between 80 and 150 pounds and grow between 3.5 and 5 feet long.

Geese and wolves will attack with bites, but geese lack true teeth, while wolves have long canines capable of causing deep puncture wounds. Geese may also attack with their wings, but those attacks would be largely inconsequential in this battle.

Now that we know the key differences, we can look closer at each species’ abilities to see what they bring to this fight.

What Are the Key Factors in a Fight Between 1,000 Enraged Geese and 50 Wolves?

Grey Wolves in Snow

Wolves have great speed, agility, pack-hunting abilities, and canines that measure up to 2.5 inches long to tear into their prey.

©iStock.com/Neil_Burton

Every fight in the wild ultimately comes down to a handful of factors. In this case, we have identified five factors that will determine which group of animals survives.

We’re going to explore each of these elements, figure out which animal has the advantage in each aspect, and then use all the data and advantages we find to conclude whether the 1,000 enraged geese or the 50 wolves would win this fight. Let’s get started by comparing sizes.

1,000 Enraged Geese vs. 50 Wolves: Size

Individually, wolves are larger than geese. Geese only weigh between 7 and 14 pounds, grow up to 3.5 feet long, and have a wingspan of about 6.1 feet long. Meanwhile, wolves can weigh between 80 and 150 pounds, stand about 2 or 3 feet tall, and grow upwards of 5 feet long. If you combined all the weight of the birds, though, they could double the weight of the wolves.

Since the geese aren’t fighting as an amalgam but as individuals in a group, the wolves have a serious size advantage.

1,000 Enraged Geese vs. 50 Wolves: Speed

Wolves are faster than geese on the ground. The average wolf can hit a pace of 40 mph at their greatest, but geese run between 1 and 2 mph on the ground, a speed they can’t maintain for long. In the air, though, they can fly at 40 mph.

Since the fight takes place on the ground, the wolves have the advantage in this battle.

1,000 Enraged Geese Vs. 50 Wolves: Defenses

Both wolves and geese find safety in groups. In this case, there are many more geese than wolves. Yet, wolves are more likely to band together and fight off a foe than geese. After all, they’re hunters, and geese are not.

In terms of physical defenses, wolves have thick fur that helps keep them safe against the attacks of lesser creatures, even geese. They can also outpace just about anything in their range to stay safe. Physically, wolves are rather large, so it takes quite a bit of damage to bring one down.  

Geese are light and lack many physical defenses. However, they can quickly move out of a dangerous area to the safety of the sky or water.

Overall, wolves have better defenses in this fight.

1,000 Enraged Geese vs. 50 Wolves: Offensive Capabilities

Center frame: Canada Goose flying over water,. The goose's wings are large and spread. The goose is flying low, so low that its wing its almost in the slate blue water. The goose is grey and brown with a long pblack neck, and black head, with a white throat. Out-of-focus natural outdoor background.

Geese can be loud and aggressive.

©Krasula/Shutterstock.com

Geese don’t have much in the way of attack power. They can use their bills and wings to attack, though. Geese lack teeth, but they have tomia to help them grind up the food they consume. A goose biting a wolf would probably do next to nothing unless it was aimed at an eye or other vulnerable area.

On the other hand, wolves know how to hunt and kill. They have immense speed, agility, pack-hunting abilities, and canines that measure up to 2.5 inches long to tear into their prey. While their bite power doesn’t rival lions or hyenas, they have more than enough to crunch through bones, especially the weak bones of waterfowl.

Wolves have the offensive advantage in this bout.

1,000 Enraged Geese vs. 50 Wolves: Predatory Behavior and Group Behavior

Geese are great at teamwork as far as living and breeding are concerned. They will often pair for life and stay in flocks throughout portions of the year. They live and forage in the same areas to protect and get the most from their foraging activities. They’re not predators even though they eat insects. Furthermore, they don’t have a solid group fighting tactic aside from intimidation.

Wolves live in packs that live and hunt together. They are very effective predators that use team-based techniques to bring down prey. Their cursorial hunting allows wolves to tire out their prey and bring them down safely so the group can eat. This technique is great for hunting animals that are even larger than wolves.  

Who Would Win in a Fight Between 1,000 Enraged Geese and 50 Wolves?

50 wolves would beat 1,000 enraged geese in a fight. The reason is simple.

Even though the geese were enraged enough to attack the wolves, the super pack would respond with immediate, overwhelming violence. Wolves know how to hunt together, and they would wreak havoc on these birds. Each wolf could kill at least one goose from the outset of the fight. That’s 5% of their strength gone without injuring a single wolf.

Another thing to consider is that 1,000 geese, enraged or not, don’t have much offensive power to use against wolves. At least, they probably can’t kill a wolf unless they dog-piled it and crushed it to death somehow. Sure, they can peck at the eyes or genitals of the wolf, but wolves aren’t going to stand still and let the birds attack during this fight. They’re going to be the aggressors!

After the first few dozen geese go down in a haze of feathers, worried honks, blood, and growling, the geese’s fighting spirit would break. Mad or not, they don’t want to die. They would fly off.

Even if they stuck around, their best chance of winning is by hoping the wolves die of exhaustion. Meanwhile, the wolves could always group up and run through the smaller creatures at high speeds, forcing the birds to take a flight to keep up.

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The photo featured at the top of this post is ©


Sources

  1. Iowa Department Of Natural Resources, Available here: https://www.iowadnr.gov/About-DNR/DNR-News-Releases/ArticleID/2868/8-cool-things-you-should-know-about-Canada-geese#:~:text=Canada%20geese%20can%20travel%201%2C500,they%20catch%20a%20strong%20tailwind.
  2. School of Graduate Studies and Research Laurentian University Sudbury, Ontario , Available here: https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk1/tape2/PQDD_0014/MQ61307.pdf
  3. Ecosphere, Available here: https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ecs2.2159#:~:text=Wolves%20(Canis%20lupus)%20are%20cursorial,(Peterson%20and%20Ciucci%202003).
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About the Author

Kyle Glatz is a writer at A-Z-Animals where his primary focus is on geography and mammals. Kyle has been writing for researching and writing about animals and numerous other topics for 10 years, and he holds a Bachelor's Degree in English and Education from Rowan University. A resident of New Jersey, Kyle enjoys reading, writing, and playing video games.

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