When disaster strikes, animals always know something is going down before humans do. That’s especially true in this situation. A four-month-old pet goose woke up a Texas family just in time to stop a barn fire from spreading. The Gerber family, who own the goose named Goosey, were asleep early on Tuesday when the bird started honking in a way they’d never heard before, according to KHOU.
The family explained that Goosey, while friendly, tends to keep to himself, so the sudden series of honks in the middle of the night was pretty noticeable. The noise was recorded by the family’s security camera when the barn caught fire. When they went back to review the footage, that’s where they got the full picture of the situation.
The response was quick since the goose had given the alarm. A family member said he went outside and saw fire shooting out of the barn, then took a garden hose and ran over to it. He managed to put out the flames before they could spread. The family added that a few more minutes might have made all the difference.
Goosey was never a likely choice for household hero. Although the bird has only been with the family since Mother’s Day, one member had originally been doubtful about having a goose. They’re now thinking of getting Goosey a companion, making a joke about getting him a “Lucy for Goosey” and having goslings.
Why Geese Make Effective Alarm Animals
Geese have always been used as living alarm systems, a fact that’s tied to their temperamental nature and their loud calls. They’re also very territorial and vigilant, quickly picking up on anything unusual in their environment. They usually respond by making loud, continuous honking that can be heard over a long distance. This combination means that they’re pretty reliable in indicating that something is wrong.
The tradition dates back far enough to be recorded throughout history. Geese have served as sentinels for centuries and are notably recorded in Roman records as having warned the city about an attack during the night. They’re still kept on some farms and even at places such as distilleries and military installations, specifically in order to make noise when there are disturbances.
What Made the Early Fire Warning So Important
A barn fire may spread quickly, particularly when there’s hay, bedding, wood, and animals all packed into an enclosed area, and the difference between detecting it early and finding out later is often only a few minutes. Since the family was warned while the fire was still small enough to be fought with a garden hose, they managed to put it out themselves and got the animals out, which might have been impossible if the warning had come a little later.
Barns and outbuildings usually don’t have any kind of fire alarms, so early detection depends on whoever or whatever happens to be keeping an eye on the situation. Funnily enough, in this instance it was a young goose. The fact that the family has decided to keep the geese and even increase their number shows just how valuable that warning was when it happened at midnight.