Geese typically spend the night sleeping on water, which offers them safety from land predators. Wild geese prefer to roost communally on water bodies such as lakes, ponds, or calm rivers, often in shallow or protected areas like small islands or reed beds that deter predators. Sleeping on water also acts like an alarm system because vibrations and ripples alert them to approaching danger. Some geese sleep standing on one leg with their heads tucked in to conserve warmth, especially in cold regions

. Geese have a unique ability called unihemispheric sleep, where one half of their brain sleeps while the other half remains alert, allowing them to watch for threats even while resting

. Although wild geese mostly sleep on water, they will sleep on land when they feel safe, such as during breeding season when they nest on protected ground near water or on small islands

. Domesticated geese, in contrast, usually sleep on land, often in groups inside coops for warmth and protection from predators

. In summary, at night, wild geese mostly sleep on water for safety, while domesticated geese sleep on land where they feel secure. They often sleep in flocks to enhance protection and use specialized sleep patterns to stay vigilant against predators.