Off Beat
The internet saw a goose on the loose. A goose researcher saw protecting parenting behavior.
A family of Canada Geese along Robbins Pond. Joanne Rathe / Globe Staff
A video of a goose attacking a dog in Boston has gone viral on TikTok, sparking online discussion about aggressive goose behavior. But a local goose researcher says the bird was only acting out of instinct to protect its young during nesting season.
The video, posted May 13, has garnered more than 6.7 million views and more than 925,700 likes as of Tuesday morning. Some viewers commented that the dog appeared to be “minding its business” before the goose charged.
But according to Mikaela Higgs, a recent Boston University graduate who studied geese-human interactions in urban environments, the goose’s behavior was defensive rather than unprovoked.
Higgs earned her bachelor’s degree in Earth and Environmental Science and wrote her thesis on the geese takeover in the city. Her research examined how geese respond to varying levels of human activity and how they adapt to urban life.
Spring marks nesting and mating season for geese, making them more alert and aggressive toward perceived threats, especially near goslings. Even though the dog and its owner appeared to keep a “reasonable distance” in the video, Higgs said the goose likely still viewed them as a danger.
“It did seem like the dog was sort of curious about the geese and their young,” she said. “[The geese] were doing what any protective parent would do when another creature is coming at their children.”
Higgs said geese often display warning signs before becoming aggressive. Defensive geese may curve their necks into an “S” shape, bob their heads, hiss, or flap their wings to appear larger — behaviors visible in the viral clip.
While goose encounters in cities can be startling, Higgs said urban geese are generally accustomed to humans. Still, she encourages people, especially dog owners, to stay aware of their surroundings during the spring season and give nesting geese extra space.
“They’re typically used to human activity, especially in these urban areas, but you always want to be safe,” Higgs added. “We still pose a threat to these animals.”
While viral videos of geese attacking people and pets are surfacing beyond Massachusetts — including in Florida and California — Higgs said the birds aren’t necessarily growing more hostile. Instead, the frequency of these encounters stems from heightened interactions between wildlife and humans within crowded urban spaces.
“They’ve become more aware of us. They’re learning how to adapt to us,” she said. “But when they’re with their young, they definitely become more aggressive and territorial.”
Higgs said she hopes people better understand the animals rather than fear them.
“They’re more afraid of you than you are of them,” she said. “They’re just trying to protect themselves. We all want to be safe … We should learn to co-exist — this is their world as much as it is ours.”
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