Boston goose – A viral TikTok showing a goose attacking a dog in Boston has drawn millions of views and comments, but a local goose researcher says the bird was acting defensively during nesting season—protecting its young—rather than showing unprovoked aggression.
A goose on the loose charged at a dog in Boston, and within days the clip had the internet transfixed. Posted May 13, the video on TikTok has drawn more than 6.7 million views and more than 925,700 likes as of Tuesday morning.
In the comment sections. some viewers suggested the dog looked like it was “minding its business” before the goose went after it. But Mikaela Higgs. a recent Boston University graduate who studied geese-human interactions in urban environments. said the behavior seen in the viral footage fits what she describes as protective. defensive instinct during nesting season.
Higgs earned her bachelor’s degree in Earth and Environmental Science and wrote her thesis on 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. Higgs said. is when geese are nesting and mating—so they can be especially alert and aggressive when they perceive a threat. particularly near goslings. Even though the video shows the dog and its owner appearing to keep a “reasonable distance. ” Higgs said the goose likely still viewed them as danger.
“It did seem like the dog was sort of curious about the geese and their young,” Higgs said. “[The geese] were doing what any protective parent would do when another creature is coming at their children.”
Higgs said geese often give warning signs before becoming aggressive. In the viral clip. she pointed to behaviors that can include curving the neck into an “S” shape. bobbing their heads. hissing. or flapping their wings to look larger—signals that can be visible even when a person doesn’t realize what they’re seeing.
Encounters in cities, Higgs acknowledged, can still be startling. But she said urban geese are generally accustomed to humans.
“They’re typically used to human activity, especially in these urban areas, but you always want to be safe,” Higgs said. “We still pose a threat to these animals.”
While goose videos of attacks on people and pets have circulated beyond Massachusetts—including in Florida and California—Higgs said the birds aren’t necessarily growing more hostile. Instead, she said the frequency of these run-ins reflects heightened contact between wildlife and humans in crowded places.
“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 her goal is for people to better understand the animals rather than fear them.
“They’re more afraid of you than you are of them,” Higgs 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.”
Boston Canada geese TikTok viral video dog attack goose researcher nesting season urban wildlife
Geese should not be attacking dogs period. Like wtf.
I feel like the dog was just sniffing and the goose snapped for no reason. Also these TikToks are always like half the story.
So it’s “defensive” because nesting… okay but I still don’t want to get charged by a bird in Boston. Last time I saw geese they were basically the boss of the sidewalk. People keep saying they “warn” first but I didn’t see any warning in the clip.
Honestly geese are like tiny dinosaurs with attitude, I knew this was gonna be an argument. The researcher said the dog was the danger but the dog owner looked calm and like far away? Idk. Maybe the goose was just hungry too, like if it sees a dog it’s automatic drama. Either way, I’m team don’t let your pet wander near goslings.