As the weather gets warmer here on campus, so returns both a friend and foe: Emmit the goose.

Buffalo State’s resident Canadian goose can often be seen on top of the Tech Building, keeping watch for his wife and future goslings. While it is unknown whether he will have babies this spring, in 2023, he and his family could be found walking around near the art building, eating grass, and relaxing.

While Canada geese are perceived as scary and should not generally be approached, these misunderstood birds are highly social and intelligent. They live in flocks – also called wedges when in flight- where they will find a goose to mate for life with, typically having two to seven babies per year. When in flight, if one goose is injured, two more will join them on the ground, making sure they recover or laying them to rest if they pass. Geese may seem scary, but they mean little to no harm.

Should you want to approach to say hi to Emmit and his family, do so slowly and quietly, while trying to look at him with one eye, keeping your arms tucked in. This trick also works on other birds!