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Cat Forum / Cat Anecdotes / April 2006Speaking of Geese
This goose has been protecting a ToysRUs store in New Jersey. http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=bizarre&id=4063319 I saw footage on the local news just now. Doesn't look TOO mean. Just a bit persistant. The store is taking it well. Wild goose chases shoppers at Toys R Us Oh, that's too funny. The goose we had would chase you, but only if you turned your back on him. I think they're minimizing a little when they said, "a pinch, that's all." It hurts like heck! They don't just pinch, they grab the skin on the calf of your leg and *twist*. I used to have bruises!! Sherry I used to work with animals a long time ago. I was nicknamed 'the duck girl'. I still have a scar on my hand from being biten by a duck. Winnie > Oh, that's too funny. The goose we had would chase you, but only if you > turned your back on him. I think they're minimizing a little when they [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Sherry >Oh, that's too funny. The goose we had would chase you, but only if you >turned your back on him. I think they're minimizing a little when they [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > >Sherry I knew a watch-goose, too, in upstate New York. They are very good at it. Her name was Gertrude, and she was really quite gentle with people she knew. Theresa Stinky Pictures: http://community.webshots.com/album/125591586JWEFwh My Blog: http://www.humanitas.blogspot.com Make Levees, Not War > Oh, that's too funny. The goose we had would chase you, but only if you > turned your back on him. I think they're minimizing a little when they [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Sherry Yes, that is exactly what they do, they pinch and twist and have serrated beaks which makes it worse. Here is a tip that works. There is no reason to be afraid of geese. They like it if you are afraid and run off. It makes them laugh ;-) If a goose approaches you, with beak open and hissing you are probably on their territory, they don't like it if they don't know you. If you don't need to be there, just go away. If you do, just stride forward and grasp the gander behind the head and turn him away from you. Works every time. He thinks he is braver than you and he found out he isn't. Only do this if you think you are in trouble and are scared. Geese have a lot of dignity. They never forget if you treated them badly. They bear malice. Tweed > > Oh, that's too funny. The goose we had would chase you, but only if you > > turned your back on him. I think they're minimizing a little when they [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > > Tweed Well, it was my territory too! :-) He was a yard goose. Stayed in the front most of the time. This was a long time ago--he was given to my daughter as a gosling, as a gift (gotta love those grandparents!!). We got into a few stand-offs but truly I did like him. Another critter that I just love are banty Roosters. There is no animal on earth with as much pluck as a banty rooster. I swear, the ones we had, it didn't matter how big the animal was, that rooster wouldn't run. He'd draw a line in the dirt and say "Bring it on!" I am so jealous of you and your fowl. I would love to have some guineas, geese, ducks, even peafowl. But we have coyotes, and I would have to keep them penned up. I'm not sure I am healthy enough or strong enough to take care of them. It is a lot of work. Sherry Sherry >I am so jealous of you and your fowl. I would love to have some >guineas, geese, ducks, even peafowl. But we have coyotes, and I would >have to keep them penned up. I'm not sure I am healthy enough or strong >enough to take care of them. It is a lot of work. Guineas and peafowl are good only if you like to get up early in the morning. And in the case of peafowl you also like banshee screams. >> Oh, that's too funny. The goose we had would chase you, but only if >> you turned your back on him. I think they're minimizing a little [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > > Tweed My LLL has a peacock and peahen that live out by his studio in the woods. He has no idea where they came from but every once in a while he'll go out for a walk and see the male doing the full fan tail display walking in front of the female. I guess there might be some little chicks later in the year; I'm not versed in peacock mating habits. I think it would be really cute to have a property full of little peacock and peahens :) Jill >>> Oh, that's too funny. The goose we had would chase you, but only if >>> you turned your back on him. I think they're minimizing a little [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] > > Jill DH & I went to the Cincinnati Zoo a couple of years ago, and they have several pairs pf peacock/hens just roaming around the zoo. One of them scared the bejeezus out of a bunch of girls scouts heading toward the restrooms - it was on the roof and did it's gawd-awful screech as they approached! They all jumped and started looking around for whatever made the noise, and finally noticed the bird on the roof! Then they laughed at themselves! We did see, in another area, a Papa guarding Mama and chicks - they were so cuuuuute - all fuzzy and 1/10 the size of the parents! > restrooms - it was on the roof and did it's gawd-awful screech as they > approached! They all jumped and started looking around for whatever made > the noise, and finally noticed the bird on the roof! Then they laughed at They do have awful sounding noises! At Monterrey Tech in Mexico they used to have (not sure if they still do) a few pairs roaming around campus. I remember the first time one of them made noises outside, about every classroom stopped class and looked out the window to figure out what the noise was. :)  SignatureVictor M. Martinez Owned and operated by the Fantastic Seven (TM) Send your spam here: uce@ftc.gov Email me here: pistorLITTER@BOXaustin.rr.com >> restrooms - it was on the roof and did it's gawd-awful screech as they >> approached! They all jumped and started looking around for whatever made [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >every classroom stopped class and looked out the window to figure out >what the noise was. :) When my ex moved to LA, the first street he lived on had a stray peacock who had taken up residence in a tree, and screeeched its head off every morning. I admit to some Schadenfreude. ;) Theresa Stinky Pictures: http://community.webshots.com/album/125591586JWEFwh My Blog: http://www.humanitas.blogspot.com Make Levees, Not War >When my ex moved to LA, the first street he lived on had a stray >peacock who had taken up residence in a tree, and screeeched its head >off every morning. I admit to some Schadenfreude. ;) Some town in Los Angeles County made the networks news a few years ago because they had a plague of peafowl. I knew some people years ago who kept peafowl. Those birds are LOUD. Kreisleriana wrote: > When my ex moved to LA, the first street he lived on had a stray > peacock who had taken up residence in a tree, and screeeched its head > off every morning. I admit to some Schadenfreude. ;) LOL. When I first read the last sentence, I was thinking, huh? Why would she want a friend to suffer? Then I realized I hadn't been reading very carefully - when I reread the message, I saw that he was your *ex*. Ah ha. Shadenfreude is allowed in that situation! :) Joyce >>> Oh, that's too funny. The goose we had would chase you, but only if >>> you turned your back on him. I think they're minimizing a little [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] > >Jill Cute, and noisy. Theresa Stinky Pictures: http://community.webshots.com/album/125591586JWEFwh My Blog: http://www.humanitas.blogspot.com Make Levees, Not War >> This goose has been protecting a ToysRUs store in New Jersey. >> >> http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=bizarre&id=4063319 >> >> I saw footage on the local news just now. Doesn't look TOO mean. >> Just a bit persistant. The store is taking it well. When I lived in Bangkok (gonna miss Britta's references to that place!) there was a lumberyard across the street from our house that used geese as 'watch geese'. Their honk was larger than their bite, although I won't say a goose bite doesn't hurt. But the premise was, the geese honking would wake up the watchman (and trust me, every watchman in Thailand is sleeping) if the geese put up a fuss, to alert him there was someone breaking in and trying to steal. That sure was the case. Those geese were noisy as could be. This case is a wild goose and for some reason it has staked out a claim on top of a building, which is odd since geese and ducks are usually ground dwellers. Just don't turn your back on it, seems to the be the rule :) Jill > 'watch geese'. Their honk was larger than their bite, although I won't say > a goose bite doesn't hurt. But the premise was, the geese honking would When my godson was little, we were at the club and he wanted to go see the ducks in the pond. So I grabbed his hand and took him near the pond. We were looking at the ducks when a rather large goose saw us and made a beeline for us with very evil intentions. I grabbed my nephew and ran as fast as I could, with the goose in pursuit! Scary critters if you ask me, attacking someone much bigger than them. SignatureVictor M. Martinez Owned and operated by the Fantastic Seven (TM) Send your spam here: uce@ftc.gov Email me here: pistorLITTER@BOXaustin.rr.com >> 'watch geese'. Their honk was larger than their bite, although I >> won't say a goose bite doesn't hurt. But the premise was, the geese [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > and ran as fast as I could, with the goose in pursuit! > Scary critters if you ask me, attacking someone much bigger than them. I guess they are territorial :) Ducks, on the other hand, don't seem to care too much. They just sort of quack and waddle away (or get in the water and paddle out a few feet). I hear swans are much like geese when it comes to being territorial (and mean). Jill >>> 'watch geese'. Their honk was larger than their bite, although I >>> won't say a goose bite doesn't hurt. But the premise was, the geese [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > Jill Yes, just bigger, meaner, and more likely to give chase if you are anywhere in their vicinity. Jo > Ducks, on the other hand, don't seem to care too much. They just > sort of quack and waddle away (or get in the water and paddle out a > few feet). This reminds me of when I lived in an apartment complex with a swimming pool. Our pool was a pitstop for 3 ducks who would stay with us for about 3 weeks per year, during their migration. I remember sitting by the pool one afternoon, watching the ducks, who were also on the pavement sunning themselves. A short distance away, the complex manager's cat was watching intently. He was slowly creeping toward the pool area, but the ducks didn't seem to notice him. But when he got within a certain distance, the ducks decided it was time to move. Nobody was in any big hurry, and none of them made any noise. They just slowly got up and ambled toward the pool I swear, I could almost hear them saying, "<sigh...> I was really enjoying that moment in the sun, but here comes that nuisance cat, I guess we ought to get into the water." So they all slipped into the pool and swam toward the center in their casual way, while the cat sat and watched them. Joyce > > Ducks, on the other hand, don't seem to care too much. They just > > sort of quack and waddle away (or get in the water and paddle out a [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > > Joyce Oh, what a life... to have to get up off the warm cement and into a swimming pool! If that cat was *really* determined, it would learn how to swim and scare the crap out of those ducks! Jill >> > Ducks, on the other hand, don't seem to care too much. They just >> > sort of quack and waddle away (or get in the water and paddle out a [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] >Oh, what a life... to have to get up off the warm cement and into a swimming >pool! Sounds almost exactly like my father's life in Florida. ;) Theresa Stinky Pictures: http://community.webshots.com/album/125591586JWEFwh My Blog: http://www.humanitas.blogspot.com Make Levees, Not War > >> A short distance away, the complex manager's cat was watching > >> intently. He was slowly creeping toward the pool area, but the ducks [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > >Oh, what a life... to have to get up off the warm cement and into a swimming > >pool! > Sounds almost exactly like my father's life in Florida. ;) Does he slip into the pool when a cat approaches him? :) Joyce > This reminds me of when I lived in an apartment complex with a swimming > pool. Our pool was a pitstop for 3 ducks who would stay with us for about > 3 weeks per year, during their migration. I remember sitting by the pool > one afternoon, watching the ducks, who were also on the pavement sunning > themselves. I live in a highrise and when our outdoor pool is opened in the summer, I often see duck swimming there in the morning. In my undergrad days, I saw lots of ducks and geese on the fountain on campus. One student even claimed a duck, or goose, grabbed his papers and took off. That was his excuse of not having his homework to turn in. The droppings of the ducks and geese left the are quite messy. Winnie > In my undergrad days, I saw lots of ducks and geese on the fountain on > campus. One student even claimed a duck, or goose, grabbed his papers > and took off. That was his excuse of not having his homework to turn in. LOL!! I guess dogs weren't allowed in the dorms? :) Joyce Neither are boys in the girls dorms but do you think that stopped us > > In my undergrad days, I saw lots of ducks and geese on the fountain on > > campus. One student even claimed a duck, or goose, grabbed his papers [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Joyce > > In my undergrad days, I saw lots of ducks and geese on the fountain on > > campus. One student even claimed a duck, or goose, grabbed his papers [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Joyce When I was finishing the final proofreading of one of my books, I set the chapters on the dining table. Clifford put a hairball on two chapters. The managing editor said that her resident editorial assistants did that occasionally, but I shouldn't take it as a chapter review. >> > In my undergrad days, I saw lots of ducks and geese on the fountain on >> > campus. One student even claimed a duck, or goose, grabbed his papers [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] >The managing editor said that her resident editorial assistants did >that occasionally, but I shouldn't take it as a chapter review. If one's "resident editorial assistant" occasionally bites off the corner of a page, how should one interpret that action? I once read that Isaac Newton once completed the first draft of a book, only to have his dog tear up half of the one-and-only manuscript copy. SignatureJohn F. Eldredge -- john@jfeldredge.com PGP key available from http://pgp.mit.edu "Reserve your right to think, for even to think wrongly is better than not to think at all." -- Hypatia of Alexandria > >> > In my undergrad days, I saw lots of ducks and geese on the fountain on > >> > campus. One student even claimed a duck, or goose, grabbed his papers [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > book, only to have his dog tear up half of the one-and-only manuscript > copy. The dog's name was Diamond, and Newton just spoke sadly to him. >>If one's "resident editorial assistant" occasionally bites off the >>corner of a page, how should one interpret that action? [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > The dog's name was Diamond, and Newton just spoke sadly to him. I read that afterwards Newton went on to re-write the book (in quill pen, mind you) even better than the first draft was. Pam S. who misses her friend and former owner Diamond >> >> > In my undergrad days, I saw lots of ducks and geese on the fountain >> >> on [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > > The dog's name was Diamond, and Newton just spoke sadly to him. That's cool. My dog's mom's name is Dottie is a Diamond. Out of Diamond Kennels. Wonder if someone was being clever when they named the kennel? Jo > If one's "resident editorial assistant" occasionally bites off the > corner of a page, how should one interpret that action? > > I once read that Isaac Newton once completed the first draft of a > book, only to have his dog tear up half of the one-and-only manuscript > copy. Our first owner as a family, Diamond was named after Sir Isaac's d-thing. Supposedly Newton is supposed to have said "Oh Diamond, you know not what you have done." One of the fuzzies in H. Beam Piper's three book fuzzy series was named Diamond after he messed up an entire inter-galactic company's computer main frame. BTW Piper died in 1965 or so. Like Robert Heinlein he was ahead of his time. Pam S. Who considers Piper one of Science Fiction's hidden treasures > > If one's "resident editorial assistant" occasionally bites off the > > corner of a page, how should one interpret that action? [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > Pam S. Who considers Piper one of Science Fiction's hidden treasures Piper, who believed strongly in reincarnation, committed suicide. Indeed, he was superb. The Fuzzies are good, but I confess to a preference to the Lord Kalvan series, overlapping with Paratime. >> > If one's "resident editorial assistant" occasionally bites off the >> > corner of a page, how should one interpret that action? [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] >Indeed, he was superb. The Fuzzies are good, but I confess to a >preference to the Lord Kalvan series, overlapping with Paratime. I love the Fuzzy series, but I haven't read the Lord Kalvan ones. I will have to see if I can find them one of these days. Piper's books are fetching an ungodly price nowadays! Patti >>>>If one's "resident editorial assistant" occasionally bites off the >>>>corner of a page, how should one interpret that action? [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > > Patti Lord Calvin of Other when is an awesome book. It's the only Lord Calvin I've read. Are there more? For those who haven't read the Fuzzy series: Fuzes were little bipeds that looked somewhat like 2 foot tall Woks (Star Wars series) but they had small bare faces and huge golden or green eyes, sorta like a cat, cat like ears and well, I'll have to scan one of the book covers for you. Hang on... http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/tanadashoes/album I hope that works. I cut down a large part of it to get to the main album page. I made a two picture album with scans from Fuzzy story covers. I hope they are clear enough. The books have been well read and loved. Pam S. >>>>> If one's "resident editorial assistant" occasionally bites off the >>>>> corner of a page, how should one interpret that action? [quoted text clipped - 39 lines] > > Pam S. Rats, that didn't work. Sorry, I'll try again later on. Pam S. bummed > Lord Calvin of Other when is an awesome book. It's the only Lord Calvin > I've read. Are there more? I'm trying to remember how the several stories and, IIRC, novels, were collected, as I originally read them in Analog magazine. I believe there were two or three books, Lord Kalvan of Otherwhen, Styphon's Revenge, and a third that I don't remember. Again from memory, Piper was working on something in the series when he committed suicide. The Lord Kalvan books make slight mention of the Paratime Secret, which is the framework in which a Pennsylvania State Policeman is cast into an alternate reality. _Paratime_ is in my library, but there are others. It's a fascinating and systematic context, which could have been a wonderful framework for other writers. Essentially, it's an alternate probability branching universe, with five major timelines. On the First Level, civilization formed from a successful migration from Mars to Earth, with the society retaining all knowledge from an advanced society. Second Level is _almost_ at the same knowledge level, but there's one key branch. Third level was, IIRC, a partial failure but retained some of the Martian knowledge, and Fourth Level doesn't have any but had developed from civilized folk. In Fifth Level, the migration totally failed, and any human life developed autonomously in some branches. Our society is a Fifth Level branch. The key difference between First and Second Level is that the First Level people know the Paratime Secret: the technology to move between timelines. Generally without exploitation, the First Level people trade and study with lower-level civilizations. Once in a while, a Paratime Conveyor accidentally picks up a person and drops him into another timeline. In Lord Kalvan, the hero, a history major who became a state policeman, is transported into an alternate Fifth Level timeline where the Americas were populated completely across the Bering Strait land bridge, but Europeans also migrated across the longer-lasting Bridge. He drops into a skirmish in a timeline in which the technique of making gunpowder is known only to an evil priesthood. It's not quite the Paratime Secret, but his knowledge, which he does get a chance to exploit, is a major social effect. He's thoroughly familiar with the best of medieval tactics, and also builds an enlightened society. > For those who haven't read the Fuzzy series: Fuzes were little bipeds > that looked somewhat like 2 foot tall Woks (Star Wars series) but they [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > Pam S. >>> 'watch geese'. Their honk was larger than their bite, although I >>> won't say a goose bite doesn't hurt. But the premise was, the geese [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] >and paddle out a few feet). I hear swans are much like geese when it comes >to being territorial (and mean). Swans are the BADDEST!!! And they are BIG. I live near a park with a good-sized artificial lake with lots of waterfowl, and the swans are like the local gangstas. When they come along, they muscle everyone else out of the way. They are remarkably beautiful to see, though. Virtually every morning, some dog sees the birds on the lake, and charges straight down at them like a bat out of hell, and then comes charging right back up the bank, yowling in terror because he met a swan instead of some duck. Theresa Stinky Pictures: http://community.webshots.com/album/125591586JWEFwh My Blog: http://www.humanitas.blogspot.com Make Levees, Not War > Virtually every morning, some dog sees the birds on the lake, and > charges straight down at them like a bat out of hell, and then comes > charging right back up the bank, yowling in terror because he met a > swan instead of some duck.//// That happened with my d*g Bonnie this morning. We were walking along the river and she flushed a duck onto the water. Next thing I know, she's running like hell back to me being chased by a very angry swan. She was yipping along the lines of *MOOOOOOOMMMMMMM - THE BIGBIRDSOUT TO GETME!!!*. She had a look of pure fear on her face, LOL! That'll teach her not to chase the water birds! Helen M >> Virtually every morning, some dog sees the birds on the lake, and >> charges straight down at them like a bat out of hell, and then comes [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > >Helen M There seems to be something especially unsettling when something you thought was prey turns around and chases you. ;) Theresa Stinky Pictures: http://community.webshots.com/album/125591586JWEFwh My Blog: http://www.humanitas.blogspot.com Make Levees, Not War >>>>'watch geese'. Their honk was larger than their bite, although I >>>>won't say a goose bite doesn't hurt. But the premise was, the geese [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > like the local gangstas. When they come along, they muscle everyone > else out of the way. They are remarkably beautiful to see, though. Yeah, we have swans around here too. They dress in black, so you can tell they're bad guys. They look pretty goofy in their adolescence though, grey fuzzy fluffy bits mixed up with their sleek black grown up feathers, but still trying to look BAAAD. >>>>> 'watch geese'. Their honk was larger than their bite, although I >>>>> won't say a goose bite doesn't hurt. But the premise was, the [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > though, grey fuzzy fluffy bits mixed up with their sleek black grown > up feathers, but still trying to look BAAAD. Yeah, but even as adolescents, that wingspan is something to see! Jill >>>>>'watch geese'. Their honk was larger than their bite, although I >>>>>won't say a goose bite doesn't hurt. But the premise was, the geese [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] >though, grey fuzzy fluffy bits mixed up with their sleek black grown up >feathers, but still trying to look BAAAD. Yes, I've seen the black swans in OZ-- they did catch me off guard. The regular white swans up here look pretty good in their first fledge. They swim around for about a year in brown or grey feathers, driving everyone, including their parents mad, and just look like rather dull swans. They fledge out in white after their first winter. Theresa Stinky Pictures: http://community.webshots.com/album/125591586JWEFwh My Blog: http://www.humanitas.blogspot.com Make Levees, Not War > >> 'watch geese'. Their honk was larger than their bite, although I > >> won't say a goose bite doesn't hurt. But the premise was, the geese [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > and paddle out a few feet). I hear swans are much like geese when it comes > to being territorial (and mean). I understand the requirements have changed, but when I was taking the Boy Scout First Class test, one had to demonstrate marking trails, stalking, or classical tracking by footprints and the like. Marking trails seemed too simple, and tracking, unless you are following an elephant, tends to be a skill learned very young. So, I took the stalking option. How did I practice? Near my house was a city recreational area with a fairly large pond, which hosted a flock of ducks. I'd carefully crawl up on them, freezing whenever they looked at me, and go for the mark of a successful stalk. If I was sufficiently invisible and inaudible, I could goose a duck. >> >> 'watch geese'. Their honk was larger than their bite, although I >> >> won't say a goose bite doesn't hurt. But the premise was, the geese [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > >If I was sufficiently invisible and inaudible, I could goose a duck. I once goosed a squirrel, although it was more a matter of his noisiness and inattention, rather than my stealth. The squirrel was head-down in a park trash can, with only a couple of inches of tail showing, as he rummaged around, probably eating left-over lunch scraps. I tweaked his tail, then hastily retreated about 10 feet. The squirrel dashed up a nearby tree, then gave me a five-minute-or-so tongue-lashing for having offended his dignity. SignatureJohn F. Eldredge -- john@jfeldredge.com PGP key available from http://pgp.mit.edu "Reserve your right to think, for even to think wrongly is better than not to think at all." -- Hypatia of Alexandria >>> >> 'watch geese'. Their honk was larger than their bite, although I >>> >> won't say a goose bite doesn't hurt. But the premise was, the geese [quoted text clipped - 33 lines] >squirrel dashed up a nearby tree, then gave me a five-minute-or-so >tongue-lashing for having offended his dignity. You're lucky you got away so easily. An irate squirrel jumped on my brother's head once when we were little. Theresa Stinky Pictures: http://community.webshots.com/album/125591586JWEFwh My Blog: http://www.humanitas.blogspot.com Make Levees, Not War > You're lucky you got away so easily. An irate squirrel jumped on my > brother's head once when we were little. I once heard an alleged 911 tape of a hysterical call from a burglar desperately pleading for help. The burglar, who happened to be bald, was prowling the darkened house, using just a penlight, when a fully clawed Siamese, screaming his battle cry, leaped from a high shelf onto his head. > I once heard an alleged 911 tape of a hysterical call from a burglar > desperately pleading for help. The burglar, who happened to be bald, > was prowling the darkened house, using just a penlight, when a fully > clawed Siamese, screaming his battle cry, leaped from a high shelf onto > his head. Ha ha!! Got what he deserved, didn't he? Guard kitty to the rescue! Please tell me he didn't sue the homeowners and win. :-/ Joyce > > I once heard an alleged 911 tape of a hysterical call from a burglar > > desperately pleading for help. The burglar, who happened to be bald, [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > >Please tell me he didn't sue the homeowners and win. :-/ On the one and only occasion my parent's house was burgled, their cat apparently scared away the burglar. They got home to find that the burglar had fled across the back yard, leaving a trail of dropped loot (unfortunately he didn't drop all of it). All of the missing items were from a three-room portion of the house. My parents' cat liked to sleep in the attic on top of a stack of boxes, and would make a loud thump when she jumped down. I figure that is probably what scared the burglar into dashing away too fast to pick up what he dropped. The cat probably never even knew the burglar was in the house. SignatureJohn F. Eldredge -- john@jfeldredge.com PGP key available from http://pgp.mit.edu "Reserve your right to think, for even to think wrongly is better than not to think at all." -- Hypatia of Alexandria >>>> >> 'watch geese'. Their honk was larger than their bite, although I >>>> >> won't say a goose bite doesn't hurt. But the premise was, the geese [quoted text clipped - 41 lines] > You're lucky you got away so easily. An irate squirrel jumped on my > brother's head once when we were little. Squirrels have an anger management problem ;-) I was walking around the Botanical Gardens a couple of years ago, minding my own business just enjoying the plants and the tranquillity when I heard a strange scolding/barking sound coming from a big tree horse chestnut tree overhead. As I looked up to see what the commotion was, a rain of twigs and leaves came down on to my head. A grey squirrel was so angry with me that he was plucking off bits of the tree and flinging them down. I was very intrigued and stood and watched for a couple of minutes but the squirrel became almost beside itself with rage, more and more tree debris came down, so I took the hint and went down another path. I figured it might have babies nearby and I didn't want to upset it any more than it obviously was. Tweed > Squirrels have an anger management problem ;-) > I was walking around the Botanical Gardens a couple of years ago, minding my [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > Tweed ROFL!!! Anger management problem! That describes it exactly. > > Squirrels have an anger management problem ;-) > > I was walking around the Botanical Gardens a couple of years ago, minding [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > ROFL!!! Anger management problem! That describes it exactly. Over the years, I have begun to overlook the cute tails and refer to them as tree-rats. I must confess that while I don't understand Squirrelish, I can mimic it well enough to be absolutely convinced I can convince a squirrel to return the most vile of insults. >>>> 'watch geese'. Their honk was larger than their bite, although I >>>> won't say a goose bite doesn't hurt. But the premise was, the [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] > > If I was sufficiently invisible and inaudible, I could goose a duck. Ducks are fairly easy to catch, hence the many recipes for duck ;) Jill > Ducks are fairly easy to catch, hence the many recipes for duck ;) > > Jill Not so. I used to work with ducks many many years ago. I had a hard time catching a duck in the duck pen. They flapped their wings and I had a hard time getting close to them. I was even biten by a duck once and still have the scar on my hand. Once I went after work to a Chinese restaurant to eat Peking duck. I suppose you can call that my revenge. Winnie >>> This goose has been protecting a ToysRUs store in New Jersey. >>> [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] >top of a building, which is odd since geese and ducks are usually ground >dwellers. Just don't turn your back on it, seems to the be the rule :) I have heard that the US military sometimes uses cages of geese stationed around the fence of secure facilities. If anyone tries to sneak past in the darkness, the geese will wake up and make lots of noise. SignatureJohn F. Eldredge -- john@jfeldredge.com PGP key available from http://pgp.mit.edu "Reserve your right to think, for even to think wrongly is better than not to think at all." -- Hypatia of Alexandria > I have heard that the US military sometimes uses cages of geese > stationed around the fence of secure facilities. If anyone tries to > sneak past in the darkness, the geese will wake up and make lots of > noise. I heard, the Romans used geese for much the same purpose, so they've used for guarding for at least 2000 years. SignatureAdrian (Owned by Snoopy and Bagheera) Cats leave pawprints on your heart. http://community.webshots.com/user/clowderuk I saw it too on Canadian TV. It is a Canadian goose, and some said hopefully Canada. won't be blamed. > This goose has been protecting a ToysRUs store in New Jersey. > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Wild goose chases shoppers at Toys R Us -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > April 7, 2006 - A goose in Philadelphia is going after shoppers at a > Toys-R-Us store. He sits on top of the building and watches people come [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > "This is hilarious, I thought it was a hawk or flacon when I came > originally, but I did not know it was a goose," said Paul Lucas. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > This fowl tempered feather friend, has sent more than one shopper on a > wild goose chase over the last few days. [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > with the USDA and is filing paperwork to have the goose humanely > removed. i saw that too. This goose has been protecting a ToysRUs store in New Jersey. http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=bizarre&id=4063319 I saw footage on the local news just now. Doesn't look TOO mean. Just a bit persistant. The store is taking it well. Wild goose chases shoppers at Toys R Us ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ April 7, 2006 - A goose in Philadelphia is going after shoppers at a Toys-R-Us store. He sits on top of the building and watches people come and go. If shoppers get too close to his part of the building, he attacks. He's attacked three people so far. "He came at you with his mouth open and everything, came right at your back. It seems like every time somebody had their back turned toward him, he comes at you," said Tim Gallagher. "If you're in a bike or a car it won't come after you, but as soon as you walk past it'll come right down after you." "This is hilarious, I thought it was a hawk or flacon when I came originally, but I did not know it was a goose," said Paul Lucas. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This fowl tempered feather friend, has sent more than one shopper on a wild goose chase over the last few days. "It's big, I thought it was gonna get on top of our heads or something, it was on top of us. It is a swan or something? A goose. I thought it was a duck," said Ramona Rodriguez. Duck is what you have to do when the goose heads your way. It's unclear why the goose is acting so aggressively, though we do they do that if they human are coming to close to a clutch of eggs. The area right underneath the goose's perch has been roped off to keep the aerial assaults to a minimum, and Toys-R-Us employees have been escorting customers too and from the store. This silly goose has become a bit of a tourist attraction, walking where it wants when it wants. That included do a little window shopping at Office Depot. Then it was back up to the roof to wait for the next person to nip. "They pinch that's all, make a lot of noise and pinch and then they go away," said Andrew Green. A Toys-R-Us spokesperson says that the mall owner has been in touch with the USDA and is filing paperwork to have the goose humanely removed > This goose has been protecting a ToysRUs store in New Jersey. > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Wild goose chases shoppers at Toys R Us We have this pair of white geese that have a protective thing about cars in a part of our neighborhood. I saw the dumb nuts take on a small car. The male waited until the driver parked it then flew at her when she tried to get out. The female raised a ruckus and tagged along with the male. Fortunately, the driver knew them, and just poked an umbrella out the door and opened it up. She was able to walk to her front door in spite of the geese. They have a nest near the pond across the road from the area they are patrolling. Silly geese anyway. Pam S. even more glad we don't have a house by the pond |
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