The greylag geese were once revered across Eurasia. It is associated with the goddess of healing, Gula in the cities of the Tigris-Euphrates delta over 5,000 years ago. Similarly, in Ancient Egypt, geese symbolized the sun god, while In Ancient Greece and Rome, they were associated with the goddess of love.
Greylag geese are largely herbivorous and feed chiefly on grasses. Unfortunately, the species has become a pest species in various parts of its range. This is due to substantial increases in their population. For example, in Norway, the number of greylag geese is estimated to have increased three- to fivefold between 1995 and 2015. Consequently, crop raiding is prevalent in such areas. This problem has also been noted for the pink-footed goose.