Have you ever been walking the Boise Greenbelt or been at a park with some sort of water feature and encountered an angry goose? The sound that they make and the speed at which a goose will charge is frightening! I grew up watching old movies like "The Birds" and more recent films like "Jurassic Park." Boise's geese often remind me of the raptors, one of the most dangerous dinosaurs in the series.

As I was minding my own business walking along the path, I must have gotten too close to a baby goose because a large goose started to charge me! I didn't know what to do, so I did what any grown man in his 40's would do. I ran and screamed!

When I got back home, I had to know if the Boise geese are as dangerous as they appear to be. Here's what I found out:

  • The type of geese that you will likely encounter in the Treasure Valley are Canadian Geese.
  • The Canadian Geese population in the are has grown substantially over the past few years.
  • They are a protected species, so it is Federally illegal to harm them.
  • They will attack you if they think you're getting too close to their nest or eggs or babies.

According to geeserelief.com, here is how to handle a goose attack:

  • Always maintain eye contact.
  • Don't turn your shoulders away from the goose.
  • Don't close or squint your eyes at the goose.
  • If a goose flies towards you, duck but stays facing the bird at a 90-degree angle.
  • Never run, yell or kick at the goose.

Most importantly, you should know that Canadian Geese aren't very dangerous while they are intimidating. There are only two recorded instances of waterfowl-related human fatalities in the United States, and they were both swans!

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