Aggressive Goose Breaks Man’s Arm (2024)

FAQs

Can a goose seriously hurt you? ›

Most goose attacks on humans result in minor or no injuries, but severe injuries can happen. Goose attacks have resulted in broken bones, head trauma, and emotional distress. Many of these injuries occur when the person tries to avoid an attacking goose and trips and falls.

Don't try to fight a goose. This is an act of hostility. This will only make it more aggressive.

If the goose attacks

If the goose flies up towards your face, duck and move at a 90-degree angle, still facing the goose. As you continue to move away from the nesting area, the attack should cease. As the geese population grows, we need to make sure we are continuing to be aware when in natural areas.

Geese become aggressive because they don't like to share their space with humans and other animals and they're protective of their young.

Being hit with a fast and repetitive flapping goose wing can cause serious bruising and can even break bones.

Federal law protects Canada geese. It is illegal to harm geese, their eggs, or their nests in the United States without permission from the U.S. Fish and Wild Service (USFWS). Geese may be harassed or scared away without a permit as long as the geese, goslings, eggs, and nests are not harmed.

Varment Guard Wildlife Service says that geese will hiss and chase, but an actual physical attack does not happen too often. They have the following tips to keep yourself safe from an aggressive goose or gander. Watch for any hissing, headbobbing, or honking. This means the goose is ready to start chasing you.

Identifying an Aggressive Goose

Geese will often show sporadic and aggressive head movements; generally any unusual aggression is a clear sign that the goose may soon attack. Geese will try to make themselves seem larger and more intimidated during any unsavory contact with a human by flapping its wings.

Do not expect geese to fight off a predator to protect smaller birds. Some may sacrifice themselves to protect their mate but their greatest attribute is their alarm system - not their actual physical intimidation. Their defensiveness is usually seasonal.

Those attacks often result in bruises, cuts, concussions, and stitches, many of which are far more serious than a welt on the backside. Fortunately, there have been no documented cases of a goose killing a human in the US, but the creatures still inspire fear—or at least caution—in the hearts of many.

How painful is a goose bite? ›

It is worth mentioning that while a goose bite may cause some discomfort and pain, the severity of the bite is usually not significant enough to cause long-term damage or require immediate medical attention.

In reality, there is no winning a fight with a goose. If you find yourself locked in battle, your goal should be to minimize damage. Goose attacks are no joke; the Ohio Division of Wildlife has documented goose attack-related injuries including broken bones and head injuries.

Canada geese can be extremely aggressive. Falls and sprained ankles are common injuries – sometimes even head trauma and broken bones result. Hundreds of emergency room admissions occur annually as a result of aggressive Canada geese – most of these in the spring.

Some geese are more receptive to being held than others, but many geese aren't very fond of the experience.

They act out aggressively as they're very protective of their young and don't like sharing space with humans or other animals. If they feel their eggs or goslings are under threat, they'll do everything in their power to keep them safe. If that means a fight, so be it.

In reality, there is no winning a fight with a goose. If you find yourself locked in battle, your goal should be to minimize damage. Goose attacks are no joke; the Ohio Division of Wildlife has documented goose attack-related injuries including broken bones and head injuries.

They may inflict a painful bite or strike with the edge of a wing. People may be injured after slipping on goose droppings. Geese may create hazards on roads and traffic accidents in urban areas. When in the vicinity of airports, they are a significant threat to public health and safety.

For larger geese and those who have compromised health, some may be too large, too fragile, or have too much strain on their respiratory system to ever safely lift them off the ground. Instead, you should sit cross-legged near the goose and then hug them safely into your lap, securing their wings.