Geese are not the gentle creatures they appear to be. Those who raise geese know that if a goose stretches its neck and chases you, you might very well end up being bitten. If it pecks at your clothes, it’s not a big deal, but if it pecks at your skin, it will definitely be a pain you won’t forget.
Even tigers, known as the “lords of the jungle,” have to fear geese. There are numerous stories online about geese confronting tigers in reserves. Initially, the tiger may seem fierce, but soon after, it is pecked by the goose, pinched, and flees.
Not only tigers, but geese can also confront other animals. There have been reports of large geese chasing and attacking dogs, and even killing eagles by sitting on their heads and pushing them underwater.
Looking closely at a goose’s beak, you can see its sharp structure with three rows of teeth, including a serrated edge on the beak. This is the “weapon” that helps geese take down their prey.
Geese, birds domesticated from wild geese, have a distant evolutionary relationship with dinosaurs. This partly explains their aggressive nature and strength. A close look at a goose’s mouth reveals three rows of teeth with serrations on the upper and lower beak, along with a row of teeth on the tongue. Just looking at their mouths is enough to frighten many people.
Geese are also extremely vigilant, with sharp hearing and quick reactions. When they sense any disturbance, they will attack immediately. When attacked, geese not only bite back but also perform various twisting movements, flapping their wings to assault their opponent until the battle is over. This makes geese the “warriors” of the poultry world.
The strength of geese has been demonstrated in many viral videos online. Some clips show geese challenging tigers in reserves, even chasing and pecking at golden retrievers and eagles. The fighting abilities of geese make many animals, including fierce predators, wary.
As for the saying “where there are geese, there are no snakes,” is it truly accurate? Although geese primarily eat grass, vegetable leaves, grains, insects, small fish, and shrimp, snakes are not on their menu. So why do snakes fear geese?
The main reason is that goose droppings contain a parasite called Cryptosporidium, which is deadly to snakes. Snake skin is very sensitive; when in contact with Cryptosporidium in goose droppings, the parasite’s eggs can enter the snake’s body through its scales, causing various skin diseases and severe infections that can lead to systemic decay and death.
Moreover, geese attack quickly and decisively, instilling fear in snakes: Snakes typically rely on their agility and lightning-fast strikes to hunt and defend themselves. However, when faced with geese, snakes often find themselves with little opportunity to utilize these skills. Geese can detect snakes from a distance and typically strike first, leaving snakes with no chance to react.
Their fast, powerful, and decisive attacking nature overwhelms snakes, forcing them to retreat. Additionally, snakes fear the strong pecks from the sharp beaks of geese. The pecking force of a goose can be strong enough to injure snakes, reducing their ability to move and defend themselves. Therefore, when encountering geese, snakes often choose to avoid or flee to prevent direct confrontation.
Over time, snakes have developed survival skills to avoid danger by recognizing the scent of goose droppings in the air. Thus, snakes will steer clear of areas inhabited by geese.
The relationship between geese and snakes may seem unrelated, but it contains many intriguing aspects. Although snakes are not part of a goose’s diet, the droppings of this bird contain the dangerous parasite Cryptosporidium for snakes.
Since ancient times, humans have raised geese to ward off snakes and other harmful animals like weasels. Chicken and duck farmers often keep one or two geese to protect their flocks. Geese can also guard homes, the members of the poultry flock, and become valuable companions to humans.
However, geese must also accept their fate when faced with humans, becoming food on the dining table. This illustrates that everything in nature is interdependent, and even powerful creatures like geese cannot escape their destiny.
Geese with their sharp beaks pose a threat to small snakes. To protect themselves, snakes have evolved the ability to recognize the scent of goose droppings and actively avoid the habitat of this bird. This explains the saying “where there are geese, there are no snakes.”
Geese, with their beautiful and harmless appearance, are indeed powerful “warriors” in the animal kingdom. Their aggressiveness and self-defense capabilities make even large animals like tigers and snakes wary. At the same time, geese are also valuable allies to humans in protecting poultry and property. However, they cannot escape their fate when faced with humans, becoming a part of the natural food chain.
According to archaeological evidence and scientific research, geese have been domesticated for a very long time, possibly up to 7,000 years ago. Geese have been domesticated from various species of wild geese, among which the most common is the Greylag goose (Anser anser). The domestication process of geese occurred gradually over many generations, as humans selectively bred geese with calm temperaments, ease of rearing, and suitability for living closely with humans. Today, there are many different breeds of geese worldwide, bred for specific purposes. |
