Graduation seats reserved for angry geese
The goose trying to attack people inside the Live Oak Hall through the window of the entrance door that is closed on Monday. Photo credit: Kanako Miyazaki
May 10, 2016
The geese that have been patrolling the doorway of the Live Oak Hall for over a month, may now interrupt the upcoming graduation festivities.
Although, CSUN’s Physical Plant Management has placed a fence and signs around the area, anyone can be prone to the attacks.
The geese have laid eggs in the area surrounding the building, causing them to become aggressive defenders of their nest.
Robert E. Espinoza, professor of biology, said that the Science and Mathematics college have expressed concern, particularly in the physics and astronomy departments. The geese have nested outside the building’s door, but when their eggs hatch the parents will become more aggressive.
“They get hyped up on hormones after the eggs hatch, their parental instincts kick in, and now anyone that gets near will get hunted down,” said Espinoza.
Espinoza explained that this will happen precisely around the time all the families are coming on campus for commencement. According to the Department Primary Industries, the main egg-laying period for geese is the spring.
According to Pest Control Inc., the Migratory Bird Treaty Act protects a majority of the birds that nest in and around the area. As a part of the act, an individual cannot remove a nest if the geese are attempting to raise a family.
“I think this is inevitable. The aggression has happened for a while,” said Espinoza.
CSUN student, Areg Ayvazian, said his sister recently got attacked by a goose.
“She was walking by, she said she didn’t provoke it or anything and all of a sudden just started chasing [her],” said Ayvazian.
Julian Lozos, assistant professor of geophysics, has witnessed the geese charging people and honking at passersby.
According to Lozos, students have been taunting the geese, but warns them that they will chase you.
“If you run away from them, they will chase you. You are bigger than them, if you stand your ground you will be fine,” Espinoza advised.
The signs have been changed for people to avoid the area completely and use the exit doors on the opposite ends of the building.
“The geese problem is kinda scary. After hearing what happened to my sister last week, I try to stay clear from the geese,” said Ayvazian.
