Canadians generally expect birds to fly away when they approach, but a cyclist in the province of Ontario has learned that Canada geese will attack if they feel threatened.
Kerry Surman was riding her bicycle on the Trans Canada Trail in the province of Ontario on June 10 when she came across a family of geese crossing the bike bath.
Goose ‘wrapped its wings around my head’
Surman saw two adult geese and some goslings cross before one final adult goose made its way through the trail.
“I thought, ‘If I just zip past I’ll be fine,'” Surman said. “But I misjudged how fast I was going and the goose misjudged my intentions.
“What I remember is the goose giving me the evil eye and then the goose wrapping its wings around my head, and I can’t see and I hear myself screaming,” she said.
Canada geese can be aggressive
Surman found herself on the ground having difficulty getting up. She ended up in hospital for five days with a concussion, fractured cheekbone, face lacerations and loose teeth. She says things might have been worse had she not been wearing a helmet and sunglasses.
Geese attacks are rare, according to the province’s Ministry of Natural Resources, but the birds can be aggressive towards people and pets. It recommends people give them wide berth especially when they have goslings.
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