How a Pet Goose Won Millions of Fans by Guarding His Owner

Geese are very territorial creatures, much like a possessive partner or a mother bear safeguarding her cubs. Their protectiveness extends beyond just their young—they will look out for any individual they care about. A viral video of a YouTuber named Mat Temmerman’s pet goose proves they are hugely loyal creatures.

Why This Goose Has Millions of Fans

In the caption of the video, which has over 10 million views, Temmerman explains, “Wally the goose is very loving to his owner, but not so to everyone else.”

The goose was raised from a gosling by his owner, which makes him fiercely protective. “He strikes out at everyone else, even his owner’s own brother,” Temmerman continued in the caption. “After the attack, Wally flaps with pride to his three cheering friends.”

In the clip, a man lies on a picnic blanket in the grass surrounded by a goose and ducks. He leans down to give his goose a hug as the person behind the camera says, “Aww.” However, when the cameraman reaches over to pet the goose, it immediately starts biting his hand. The goose keeps getting more aggressive, eventually spreading its wings and honking as it walks toward the cameraman and starts going for his side. The goose doesn’t stop until its owner puts an arm out and blocks it from reaching the person it thinks is a threat. It gets in one last peck before walking off, making both men laugh.

The comments were full of laughs. One person wrote, “Goose: ‘Violence isn’t the answer, it’s a question—and the answer is yes!’” Another said, “Goose: ‘There’s only room for one human in this flock, buddy, and it ain’t you!’” Someone else commented, “I like how the goose is initially like, ‘ah, that’s nice, a third hand.’ Then it switches to, ‘WAIT? A THIRD HAND?’” There’s no getting past these geese!

Nesting Season No-Nos

Geese have a reputation for being loud and mean. They will attack or hiss at people, make loud honks, and perform other aggressive maneuvers to avoid sharing space with someone or to protect their young. Because they are so territorial, they often seek out areas with abundant food and resources, minimizing the need to share or defend against predators. But if they think you are encroaching on their space, they may bob their head and honk, which is a signal of an impending attack.

Male geese, called ganders, will guard female geese and their nests while their eggs are incubating, according to Varment Guard Wildlife Services. They will honk and patrol the area to protect the vulnerable eggs from predators, even going so far as to get physically violent if they think someone is a threat.

According to the National Audubon Society, Canada geese, in particular, are notoriously aggressive. They will stretch out their neck, spread their wings, hiss, and pump their head up and down if they believe their nest or goslings are under threat. They will charge and fly at a perceived threat as well, so it’s best not to make them mad. People should especially be wary of geese during nesting season in the spring, when geese become more stressed and act even more possessively toward potential threats, according to the Forest Preserve District of Will County.

Predators vs. Friends

There are 17 recognized species of geese, including the largest and most well-known, the Canada goose. A gaggle of geese will honk, cry, and sometimes vibrate their neck feathers to warn off predators such as skunks, foxes, snakes, snapping turtles, and even humans.s. After successfully defending themselves, the gaggle will give a victory cry to celebrate, which is what the goose and ducks in the video appeared to do.

What to Do If a Goose Attacks You

In general, geese rarely attack humans. The Humane Society of the United States says that most injuries related to goose attacks likely occur from a startled person falling rather than from direct contact with the goose. However, if a goose does confront you, you should maintain eye contact with the animal, move slowly, and back away. Don’t make loud noises or fast movements, and don’t ever turn your back on the goose, as it could take these as signs of aggression and attack.

Additionally, avoid feeding any geese you come across. If food is easy to acquire, more geese will congregate, leading to more annoying droppings and an increased conflict with people in the area. If they eat human food, they could develop wing deformities such as a slipped wing or dropped wing, making it very difficult for them to fly. Stay safe by leaving geese alone and warning your friends about their territorial behavior.