December 17, 2024 • 9 mins
In honor of the holiday season, we are re-releasing our 12 Days of Christmas special! For the next 12 days, we will re-release one episode a day, each one with our own spin on the classic holiday theme, "The 12 Days of Christmas."
Cindy explains why geese attack and how you too can prevent a geese attack.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
So, before I go into my story for this mini episode,
I just want everyone listening,and especially you, katie,
because I can see you.
I want you to know that this isprobably the most important
podcast you will listen to allday.
Katie, I'm betting that we aregoing to save a life or two just
(00:32):
with this podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
This is very serious stuff.
Oh my gosh.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
Let's get into it.
On the sixth day of Christmas,my true love gave to me six
geese a-laying.
Christmas is my true love,Katie.
Six geese a-laying.
So, Katie, let's learn whygeese can be so aggressive.
We're going to explore ways youcan prevent a goose attack and
(00:59):
also learn about somealternatives to giving someone
geese for Christmas.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
Literally anything else.
How about those poppet toysthat the kids these days are
playing with that?
Speaker 1 (01:13):
seems a lot less aggressive.
So let's start by brieflyexploring.
Why are geese sometimes soaggressive?
Did you know that geese oftenbecome aggressive if they think
that their eggs or goslings arethreatened?
Speaker 2 (01:27):
I thought it's just because they were literally
spawned from the bowels of hell.
I just thought they were reallyjust assholes.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
I think so more so, even if you don't see a nest,
one may be nearby.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
Lurking.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
If you get too close, a goose may attack to defend it
.
Now if wild geese are fed bypeople, they obviously start to
lose their natural fear ofhumans and therefore will build
their nests close to people andpeople activities.
Then of course, the geese willbecome aggressive if people get
(02:06):
too close to their nests.
Now most goose attacks onhumans result in minor to no
injuries.
But severe injuries can happen.
Goose attacks have resulted inbroken bones, head trauma and
emotional distress.
In broken bones, head traumaand emotional distress.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Many of these injuries occur when the person
tries to avoid the goose attackand trips and falls.
Just lean into it, they'll doless damage to you.
Just let them do their thing.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
So, Katie, you might be wondering how do I know if a
goose is preparing to attack me?
Speaker 2 (02:46):
I don't know Sydney.
How do I know?
Speaker 1 (02:49):
Notice its body language.
At first, a goose will bend itshead back slightly.
This indicates aggression.
If the goose then bends itsneck out straight, this shows
that the goose's aggression isincreasing.
Also, if a goose is about toattack you, it will pump its
(03:11):
head up and down.
They also may honk or hiss ifthey are about to attack Katie.
It's very important to knowthat geese have excellent vision
and they will pay very closeattention to your eyes and your
body language.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
Wait, should I make eye contact with the goose, or
is that also?
They interpret that as a signof aggression.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
So here's what you need to do If a goose begins
acting aggressively towards you.
The first thing you should dois maintain eye contact and face
your body directly towards thebird.
Your instinct might say turnand flee, but no, the bird will
see that as a sign of weaknessand will follow you.
(03:55):
Also, do not close or squintyour eyes, because that will
make the goose more likely toattack.
Be sure to back away slowly andnever run, yell, kick or act
aggressively in any way.
If you do, the bird still mayattack you.
(04:15):
This is important, katie.
This is super important.
If a goose flies towards yourface, duck or move away from it
at a 90 degree angle to thedirection of flight.
I repeat do not turn away fromthe bird.
Also, it's important to knowthat you should always go to the
(04:40):
park with a friend, so, even ifyou do get attacked, a friend
will be there to catch it onvideo that's the most important
part of all this on october.
Now for a little bit of history,not really but no, but, but
this is good.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
This is we.
Like you said, I feel likewe've saved lives.
I feel like this could also youcould substitute in many other
things for a goose, and thiswould work very well A small
child, a chihuahua.
Speaker 1 (05:09):
Do not close or squinch your eyes and never turn
away from your child.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
They view that as a sign of aggression and also
weakness and will attack.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
You know all your weaknesses.
You know all your weaknesses.
On October 25th 2019, an87-year-old woman with a walker
in Dartmouth, nova Scotia, wasout of nowhere attacked by a
goose.
According to the Canadian pressreports, the goose attack left
the elderly woman with a brokenpelvis and a broken elbow.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
That's no joke when you're an octogenarian.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
Right, she should have listened to this podcast.
She should have jumped ahead intime, listened to the podcast,
gone back in time to her presentday, and then she would have
known what to do about the gooseattack.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
Right, right, she probably squinted at them.
That's your first mistake.
Don't squint.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
Use the glasses Disgusting.
In 2011, a dentist in Alaskawas attacked by a goose.
The dentist hopped onto his ATVto escape, but the goose flew
at him, which caused him todrive into a tree at high speed
and he broke his leg.
That's awful, and he broke hisleg.
(06:23):
That's awful.
And, katie, need I remind youof Captain Sully and the Miracle
on the Hudson in 2009?
I remember that.
I remember watching that on TV.
I hope that man sleeps everynight with his head on a pillow
of Canadian goose feathers.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Anyway.
So I'm seeing a pattern.
These Canadians, it's theCanadians.
Canadian, literally a Canadiangoose from Canada, nova Scotia,
alaska, the border's right thereCould have snuck right over,
and then we know for a fact itwas a canadian goose.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
The miracle on the hudson I'm I'm just saying seems
like, for whatever reason,canada is breeding super killer
geese so you might be thinkingwell, shoot, cind, cindy, I was
going to get my boyfriend or mygirlfriend six geese for
(07:27):
Christmas.
What are some alternatives togetting my significant other
some geese?
Well, here's an idea you couldalways staple your lover's hand.
Just take a stapler and, justlike, staple them.
That would be a goodalternative.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
Probably more pleasant.
You'd get them some moreenjoyable.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
Ferrero Rocher.
Or you could always check outour not another history podcast
Amazon wishlist, where Katie andI have have shared some of our
favorite historically relevanthistorically themed,
(08:09):
historically loosely tied stuff.
Anyway, all great alternativesto giving your significant loved
ones some geese for Christmas.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
They will thank you for it in advance or not.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
They may be selfish bastards and never thank you,
but at least you saved them fromthe goose attack in that case,
maybe you should get them thegeese maybe you know what, maybe
you do know people in your life.
Just get that SOB A goose.
Get everybody else somethingfrom our Not Another History
(08:50):
Podcast, amazon wish list.
It's one or two people, why not?
Speaker 2 (08:56):
You deserve a goose this year, thank you,
So, before I go into my story for this mini episode,
I just want everyone listening,and especially you, katie,
because I can see you.
I want you to know that this isprobably the most important
podcast you will listen to allday.
Katie, I'm betting that we aregoing to save a life or two just
(00:32):
with this podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
This is very serious stuff.
Oh my gosh.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
Let's get into it.
On the sixth day of Christmas,my true love gave to me six
geese a-laying.
Christmas is my true love,Katie.
Six geese a-laying.
So, Katie, let's learn whygeese can be so aggressive.
We're going to explore ways youcan prevent a goose attack and
(00:59):
also learn about somealternatives to giving someone
geese for Christmas.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
Literally anything else.
How about those poppet toysthat the kids these days are
playing with that?
Speaker 1 (01:13):
seems a lot less aggressive.
So let's start by brieflyexploring.
Why are geese sometimes soaggressive?
Did you know that geese oftenbecome aggressive if they think
that their eggs or goslings arethreatened?
Speaker 2 (01:27):
I thought it's just because they were literally
spawned from the bowels of hell.
I just thought they were reallyjust assholes.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
I think so more so, even if you don't see a nest,
one may be nearby.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
Lurking.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
If you get too close, a goose may attack to defend it
.
Now if wild geese are fed bypeople, they obviously start to
lose their natural fear ofhumans and therefore will build
their nests close to people andpeople activities.
Then of course, the geese willbecome aggressive if people get
(02:06):
too close to their nests.
Now most goose attacks onhumans result in minor to no
injuries.
But severe injuries can happen.
Goose attacks have resulted inbroken bones, head trauma and
emotional distress.
In broken bones, head traumaand emotional distress.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Many of these injuries occur when the person
tries to avoid the goose attackand trips and falls.
Just lean into it, they'll doless damage to you.
Just let them do their thing.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
So, Katie, you might be wondering how do I know if a
goose is preparing to attack me?
Speaker 2 (02:46):
I don't know Sydney.
How do I know?
Speaker 1 (02:49):
Notice its body language.
At first, a goose will bend itshead back slightly.
This indicates aggression.
If the goose then bends itsneck out straight, this shows
that the goose's aggression isincreasing.
Also, if a goose is about toattack you, it will pump its
(03:11):
head up and down.
They also may honk or hiss ifthey are about to attack Katie.
It's very important to knowthat geese have excellent vision
and they will pay very closeattention to your eyes and your
body language.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
Wait, should I make eye contact with the goose, or
is that also?
They interpret that as a signof aggression.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
So here's what you need to do If a goose begins
acting aggressively towards you.
The first thing you should dois maintain eye contact and face
your body directly towards thebird.
Your instinct might say turnand flee, but no, the bird will
see that as a sign of weaknessand will follow you.
(03:55):
Also, do not close or squintyour eyes, because that will
make the goose more likely toattack.
Be sure to back away slowly andnever run, yell, kick or act
aggressively in any way.
If you do, the bird still mayattack you.
(04:15):
This is important, katie.
This is super important.
If a goose flies towards yourface, duck or move away from it
at a 90 degree angle to thedirection of flight.
I repeat do not turn away fromthe bird.
Also, it's important to knowthat you should always go to the
(04:40):
park with a friend, so, even ifyou do get attacked, a friend
will be there to catch it onvideo that's the most important
part of all this on october.
Now for a little bit of history,not really but no, but, but
this is good.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
This is we.
Like you said, I feel likewe've saved lives.
I feel like this could also youcould substitute in many other
things for a goose, and thiswould work very well A small
child, a chihuahua.
Speaker 1 (05:09):
Do not close or squinch your eyes and never turn
away from your child.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
They view that as a sign of aggression and also
weakness and will attack.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
You know all your weaknesses.
You know all your weaknesses.
On October 25th 2019, an87-year-old woman with a walker
in Dartmouth, nova Scotia, wasout of nowhere attacked by a
goose.
According to the Canadian pressreports, the goose attack left
the elderly woman with a brokenpelvis and a broken elbow.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
That's no joke when you're an octogenarian.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
Right, she should have listened to this podcast.
She should have jumped ahead intime, listened to the podcast,
gone back in time to her presentday, and then she would have
known what to do about the gooseattack.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
Right, right, she probably squinted at them.
That's your first mistake.
Don't squint.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
Use the glasses Disgusting.
In 2011, a dentist in Alaskawas attacked by a goose.
The dentist hopped onto his ATVto escape, but the goose flew
at him, which caused him todrive into a tree at high speed
and he broke his leg.
That's awful, and he broke hisleg.
(06:23):
That's awful.
And, katie, need I remind youof Captain Sully and the Miracle
on the Hudson in 2009?
I remember that.
I remember watching that on TV.
I hope that man sleeps everynight with his head on a pillow
of Canadian goose feathers.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Anyway.
So I'm seeing a pattern.
These Canadians, it's theCanadians.
Canadian, literally a Canadiangoose from Canada, nova Scotia,
alaska, the border's right thereCould have snuck right over,
and then we know for a fact itwas a canadian goose.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
The miracle on the hudson I'm I'm just saying seems
like, for whatever reason,canada is breeding super killer
geese so you might be thinkingwell, shoot, cind, cindy, I was
going to get my boyfriend or mygirlfriend six geese for
(07:27):
Christmas.
What are some alternatives togetting my significant other
some geese?
Well, here's an idea you couldalways staple your lover's hand.
Just take a stapler and, justlike, staple them.
That would be a goodalternative.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
Probably more pleasant.
You'd get them some moreenjoyable.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
Ferrero Rocher.
Or you could always check outour not another history podcast
Amazon wishlist, where Katie andI have have shared some of our
favorite historically relevanthistorically themed,
(08:09):
historically loosely tied stuff.
Anyway, all great alternativesto giving your significant loved
ones some geese for Christmas.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
They will thank you for it in advance or not.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
They may be selfish bastards and never thank you,
but at least you saved them fromthe goose attack in that case,
maybe you should get them thegeese maybe you know what, maybe
you do know people in your life.
Just get that SOB A goose.
Get everybody else somethingfrom our Not Another History
(08:50):
Podcast, amazon wish list.
It's one or two people, why not?
Speaker 2 (08:56):
You deserve a goose this year, thank you,
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