Leaving an Imprint

Why would a baby goose follow a person around?

Geese are highly social birds and tend to get along well with other animals. They often form lifelong, loyal couples and are dedicated to their families.

When baby geese, called goslings, hatch from their eggs, they bond to the first moving object they see in the first 24 to 48 hours of life, in a process called imprinting. This is usually its mother, but it could be a person, another animal, or even an inanimate object.

The bond formed during the imprinting period is crucial for the gosling's survival, as it relies on the mother for protection, guidance, and learning essential behaviors.