It was one of 122 species of animals, birds, and fishes first documented for science by the Lewis and Clark Expedition (Corps of Discovery).

The cheek patches are usually separated by a black line under the throat and the breast is a pale grayish-brown color, although a small number of lighter- and darker-breasted birds occur.

The westernmost population did not appreciably differ in color, except that the neck ring was always very wide and white in the few attested specimens.

[5] Since then, the Aleutian cackling goose has made a comeback, and it was removed from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service list of endangered mammals and birds in 2001.

As of 2004, Humboldt County began receiving the majority of Aleutian cackling geese on the northwestern coast from January through April.