How can geese be so intimidating to bigger animals? Would a human be able to do the same?

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It is pretty easy to find videos of geese standing their ground or even straight up attacking bigger animals, usually cows. Why does it work?

As far as I know, geese don’t have bright colors indicating venom, or big fangs, big talons, super lound cries. Where does this intimidation come from? Why do animals avoid them at all?

Would I, a human, be able to scare the sh*t out of a herd of cows by opening my arms and screaming at them too?

Example: [Geese scaring a few cows](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyc580u5elc)

In: Biology

12 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

Well, in the video you linked to, its not really because the cattle is scared. Its more like a little brother nagging the older brother, but the older brothers knows hes gonna get in trouble if he hits the little brother, so he kinda fucks off.

But, the way geese usually scare other animals, is by making themselves larger, usually by spreading their wings out. With those wings, they have a pretty mean slap, and along with their teeth (they have pretty sharp teeth) they can bite themselves out of many situations.

You as a human could do the same to scare away bigger things, just think of how dudes puff their chests when fronting other dudes. Its to become bigger and scarier.

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