Wildlife
Lesser Canada goose; Cackling Goose
Branta hutchinsii leucopareia
Photo: Wikimedia Commons via Wikipedia
Habitat
Fort Clatsop
Conservation
Vulnerable
First Observed
1805-12-08
This Cackling Goose subspecies breeds on the Aleutian Islands and winters on the Pacific NW coast in small numbers.
Recent sightings
Where it’s being seen today
2 research-grade iNaturalist observations between 2018–2026. Most recent: 2026-03-18. Sourced from Terrain360 trail captures, cached locally.
Journal References
15 journal entries mention Lesser Canada goose; Cackling Goose
Apr
13
1805
Missouri River near Little Missouri — Patrick Gass: April 13, 1805
...miles and encamped
on the North side, where we found a wild goose nest on a tree
about 60 feet high. One of the men climbed the tree and
found one egg in the nest.
Apr
18
1805
Patrick Gass: April 18, 1805
a wild goose. The morning was fine and we went on very
well until 1 o’clock, when the wind blew so hard down t...
May
1
1805
Missouri River near Porcupine River — Joseph Whitehouse: May 1, 1805
...to hunt. they killed one buffaloe one Deer 2 beaver
and one Goose. the party camped opposite to where I lay all
night the man who was with me kill’ a Deer. (came o...
Jun
9
1805
Marias River decision camp — Patrick Gass: June 9, 1805
...en killed
an excellent fat buffaloe. There is a quantity of gooseberry
and choak-cherry bushes on the point, and also some rabbit
berries.
Jun
15
1805
Great Falls of the Missouri — Patrick Gass: June 15, 1805
...n a point above, there is a great quantity of straw-
berry, gooseberry and choak-cherry bushes ; and there appears
to be a good deal of small cotton-wood on the bank...
Jun
25
1805
Great Falls Portage — John Ordway: June 25, 1805
...iew
flowers in the plains. Great quanties of choke cherryes Goose
berrys red & yallow berry, & red purple currents on the Edges of
the water, we catch great quantiti...
Jun
26
1805
Great Falls Portage — John Ordway: June 26, 1805
...s day and Camped on the Stard Side.2
our hunters killed one goose which was all the game killed to day.
July 26th Friday 1805. a clear morning, we set out as usal
an...
Jun
27
1805
Great Falls Portage — John Ordway: June 27, 1805
usal, and proceeded on. Some of the hunters killed a goose and
a beaver, about 8 oClock A. M. we halted took breakfast under
a handsom ceeder tree on S. Side....
Jun
30
1805
Great Falls Portage — Joseph Whitehouse: June 30, 1805
...les this day and Camped on the N.S. our hun-
ter killed one goose, which was all that was killed this day.
[ 120 ]
1805] WHITEHOUSE’S JOURNAL
Jul
10
1805
Great Falls Portage — Patrick Gass: July 10, 1805
...ere there
are high rocks, I found a great quantity of sweet gooseberries,
all ripe.
Jul
27
1805
Three Forks of the Missouri — Patrick Gass: July 27, 1805
...timber on the branches,
chiefly cotton-wood. Also currants, goose and service ber-
ries, and choak-cherries on the banks. The deer are plenty
too; some of the men we...
Aug
4
1805
Jefferson River ascending toward divide — John Ordway: August 4, 1805
...timber along the River as below, we proceeded ,on. killed a
goose & a duck they are pleanty on the River, we Came 15
miles this day and Camped on s. side at a bottom...
Aug
23
1805
Camp Fortunate, Sacagawea reunites with Cameahwait — Patrick Gass: August 23, 1805
... and no path or trail of any kind. This morning we
killed a goose, and badly wounded a large buck in the water.
One of our sergeants is very unwell. We went on 3 mil...
Sep
7
1805
Lost Trail Pass, meeting Flathead Salish at Ross's Hole — John Ordway: September 7, 1805
...r
hunters killed two Deer. Some of the the hunters killed 1 goose 1
crain Several pheasants and a hawk, we proceeded on crossed
Several Small creeks and runs1 we had...
Sep
9
1805
Travelers' Rest near present-day Lolo, MT — John Ordway: September 9, 1805
...e Mo* each Side of this valley,
one of the hunters killed a goose and a wood pecker. Cap* Clark
killed 4 pheasants or prarie hens, we find wild or choak cherries
alo...