Gander disappeared without a trace

Hello,
We have a pair of white geese. They are just a year old and lovely, friendly family pets. They can't fly and don't really try.
Our goose just started sitting eggs in the small goose house on our lawn. Her mate has been eating the grass as normal close by.
We live next to a paddock and there is all kings of wildlife nearby including foxes, badgers and muntjac deer. At least one fox comes though our garden daily.
We haven't been worried about the foxes because we figured that the geese together would be more than a match for a fox.
Maybe we were wrong.
This morning, the gander vanished without a trace.
We didn't hear any sound, but then we might not have done, being in the house.
But there are no feathers and other than the goose house door being more closed that when we left it, there is nothing else out of the ordinary.
We're thinking that a fox has had the gander. It would have to have dragged him gone over twigs and undergrown to get out of our garden, but there are no feathers, no blood, nothing. Could a fox have dragged him off without any signs of a fight?

Sorry for the situation. A fox, bobcat, coyote might have killed and taken him with minimal to no signs. I would be concerned about assuring the security of the setting goose now that he is no longer there to protect her.

We had a drake Muscovy taken by a fox this past winter. I was able to find the remains. Fox eat initially and then tend to save for the future. And not a feather was left behind. They are very good hunters that are quick and effective. And X2 what sourland had to offer. Get a fence or something up to protect the goose, she's very vulnerable. Geese also like to have companionship, so it might be worth looking into replacing the gander with another. Very sorry to hear of your loss. Very painful.

Thanks for your kind words. Fortunately we don't have bobcats or coyotes in the UK, but foxes can do enough damage.
It's amazing that there was no evidence of a fight. Or any remains.
We've put a fence up around the goose house. Hopefully she will be ok in there.
We've heard that once a pair have bonded, that it's difficult to 'replace' a lost partner.

No number of geese can defend themselves against a fox. The fox may be tentative at first, but if he's hungry, he'll eat. And now that the fox knows where his "lunchbox" is, he'll be back.

Geese do pairbond, and it may take some time for them to do that. Getting a new gander while your goose is broody is probably not a good idea. He may disturb her sitting. I'd let her hatch out the babies first and let her raise them. If you plan on keeping the goslings, she'll probably bond with one of them in spring.