Goose Hugs

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One afternoon I was sitting on a steep bank beside the lake. Sidekick swam to the water's edge and started walking up the bank toward my feet (legs were extended downhill). When she arrived, Sidekick suddenly extended her neck across both my legs just below the knees, then resumed standing normally. The gesture was so unusual, I knew that it was specific body language—perhaps a greeting. It certainly seemed like a "goose hug."

Since Sidekick's first one, approximately 5 or 6 geese have given goose hugs out of a flock of about 20 geese. This includes Sidekick, Hop-along, Skip-along, and others. All the other hugs were to the arm, shoulder and neck. When I first approach the goose I will stoop down or sit down on the ground. As I reach out with one hand with food, their beak and neck begins shaking rapidly (trembling, actually). Ignoring the food, then it will suddenly extend its neck outward and put the bottom of its beak (closed) on my forearm—and, in the same motion, push its head up the arm to my shoulder or neck. Then it pulls away and goes back to ordinary behavior (eating, preening, etc.).

Drawing of goose hug. Goose steps forward and extends neck, sliding its head from the person's wrist to shoulder or neck.

I think that the goose hug must be a somewhat common behavior—that is, not a quirk with just a goose or two. However, it is initiated entirely by the geese. I cannot hug a goose on command, but I can let (or not let) them hug me on the rare occasion when they want to. A video would capture it best (rather than a photo), since it is not an actual "embrace." It would be quite challenging to capture a hug, since it lasts only 2-5 seconds.

Here is a list of circumstances around goose hugs that may give us some clues:

Overall, more gooses (females) have given me hugs than ganders.
The hugs are given as the goose is directly facing me—never from the side or from behind me.
Sometimes a hug is given completely apart from feeding time.
Sometimes a hug is given by a lone goose (no others around), also with no feeding involved.
The hug generally begins at my wrist and ends at my shoulder or neck (not a rubbing in one spot).
However, the goose may hug your legs if those are the first thing the goose encounters as it comes to you.
The hug is always a meeting gesture (as we come together), never when parting (as the goose leaves).
Hugs are more common in the winter and spring than in summer's molting season.

Tailgating / subduing - It's quite rare, but I have seen geese do this: One goose pursues another and lays its head and neck on the back of another... both geese quickly walking or paddling inline, as if in a two-car train. The front goose seems not to appreciate it too much, but has no choice until it breaks free. This behavior occurs during feeding time. Once, I even saw a goose tailgate a duck that was getting some of the corn on the ground.

I feel strongly that goose hugs are an expression of appreciation and affection. Jealousy is an unlikely cause, because it would require another goose and/or food. Although goose hugs occur from the front, perhaps there is also a "subduing" or "conquering" message in these hugs (as in tailgating). Let's assume subduing is part of the message; that's not antithetical to appreciation or love. I would contend that true love requires voluntary submission, which is a positive relationship trait between two creatures. Maybe the goose hug is signalling me to submit to the goose's needs (food and attention). Submitting (cooperating) is then my choice to make. And, they're up-front about it (from the front). That's quite okay with me.

I do not claim a monopoly on receiving goose hugs—in fact, Sidekick has given two neighbors more than one goose hug. If you are interested in creating conditions in which a goose that is so inclined will hug you, try the following:

Avoid body language that looks threatening to geese. Make no sudden moves; do not throw food overhanded.
Do not bring dogs or threatening-looking objects with you such as sticks, umbrellas, or kites when you feed geese.
If there are any geese with a physical handicap, find a way to feed them every time you visit the lake or pond.
Get the geese used to eating from your hand. Hold your hand low to the ground so the geese can see the food you have.
Always stoop or sit down when feeding the geese. (I have never received a goose hug while standing.)
If you see a goose's head and neck start to tremble, keep your hand extended in front of you so the goose can reach your arm and shoulder.

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