Kensal,
Actually it was only ever the Giant Canada Goose subspecies that was close to extinction. They actually thought they were gone until feral non-migratory flocks were discovered that were descendants of live decoys and ornamental birds.
I don't think anybody has ever really looked into it, but I believe all the feral Canada Geese in the UK are giant strain as well. We shot some over there on a couple of occasions and they were the biggest ones I'd ever picked up in my whole life.
The smallest race (Aleutian) was also in bad shape for a long time due to fox predation on their nesting islands. They finally got all the foxes cleared off and now they're doing fine. You can actually hunt them again, a great success story for a fun game bird.
DLH
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I was as virtuously given as a gentleman need to be; virtuous enough; swore little; diced not above seven times a week; went to a bawdy-house once in a quarter--of an hour; paid money that I borrowed, three of four times; lived well and in good compass: and now I live out of all order, out of all compass. Falstaff - Henry IV
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