Why are people afraid of geese?

[ChickenCanoe]

@ChickenCanoe how does your friend do this?

With trained border collies. It is for Canada geese that just fly into a pond or lake when disturbed so the dogs have to swim after them to get them to leave.

Hi buddy!

 

[kwhites634]

With trained border collies. It is for Canada geese that just fly into a pond or lake when disturbed so the dogs have to swim after them to get them to leave.

Hi buddy!

I watched a guy using a remote controlled motor boat to harrass them on the water, saving the dog to chase them on land.

 

[The Phantom]

Now, see, cranes I get! Cranes have knives on their faces. Geese don't have much, aside from the biting.

Yup!

Some people just fear avians and some have had a bad experience imprint. If you were attacked by a bird and didn’t know how to stop it then you may develop a life long fear. For each person it is individual. Some dog bite victims don’t go on to fear dogs but many do. Same thing. Exposure to what scares you may improve the fear but many who are afraid never allow that again. And understandably so.

My moms friend is scared to death of birds, so we always tease here when she comes over!!! Lol

Precisely! I have a fear of wasps and hornets even though I have never been stung my grandmother told me how it happened to her and now I’m terrified

One summer I got stung 9 times. 5 of those times was from one huge black hornet on my fresh skin that was burned badly. That was the worst sting I ever experienced!

 

[The goose girl]

I too have been baffled by how many people were afraid of my one generally friendly goose. Even though it can hurt and leave bruises when geese attacks you, they can't really damage you. No one gets mauled, disfigured, or killed by geese. A dog is far more likely to cause serious injury, yet a disproportionate amount of people are scared silly when my goose hones in on their shoelaces. They jump as if she's gnawing off their ankles.

I think it's because most people have little or no experience with geese. With a dog, most people can to some degree determine if it's upset, nervous, or angry. Nobody knows goose language, so when my goose loudly greets them with happy honking, they hear it as a kind of angry goose barking. I've also noticed that the few brave ones will hold out their hand for her to sniff. That really doesn't work with geese in general, and with my goose not at all, as she will try to find the treat she thinks they're offering her - pulling at their fingers and sleeves when she can't find it.

 

[Miss Lydia]

How about the young goose you now have how is that working out?

 

[The goose girl]

How about the young goose you now have how is that working out?

Thanks for asking! I've posted an update here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-imprinted-goose.1173484/page-4#post-20769947

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

My fear of adult geese all stems from being attacked as a child The geese at the farm flew at us when we came out of the tack room. We fled back inside only for them to hang around the door hissing and flapping at us when we tried to get out. After that I’ve always paid great respect to adults and kept a suitable distance.

I don’t mind super cute little goslings, those I can manage!