Canada goose gets trapped inside a Laurier campus building and chaos ensues

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It’s like the start of a joke: Why did the Canada goose go to Starbucks?

Last week, a goose found its way into a building on Wilfrid Laurier University’s Waterloo, Ont., campus and the experience has ruffled a few feathers.

Several witnesses took videos of the goose trying to fly away, causing students to run for cover. The goose’s capers went viral on social media.

In one of the videos, the goose can be seen walking in front of a Starbucks and then suddenly flapping its wings and taking off in flight up the stairs and into a large atrium.

According to the university, the bird snuck in via a sliding door.

WATCH | Screams heard as Canada goose flies through Laurier campus building:

Screams heard as Canada goose flies through Laurier campus building

A Canada goose trapped inside a building on Wilfrid Laurier University’s campus went viral after several students filmed the bird flying around causing students to run, scream and hide. Geese are familiar sights on campus in the spring as they settle down to nest.

The university says at this time of year it’s “common to have geese on university campuses.”

“We believe the goose entered and exited via an open sliding door when students entered the building,” a spokesperson for Laurier said in an email, adding there were no injuries reported.

The school has also shared tips with students and staff on how to stay safe when dealing with geese on campus.

It’s not the first time a goose has gone viral at Laurier.

Last year, a group of roommates at the school were trapped inside their home for about a week due to an aggressive nesting goose who would attack anyone walking on the sidewalk by their front door.

A person runs away from an aggressive Canada goose on a residential street in Waterloo, Ont. (Jory Harris)

Last year, the Guelph Humane Society put out guidelines on how people should deal with Canada geese in the spring.

The humane society noted that nesting season lasts only a few weeks, but geese can be “especially protective” during that time.

“Geese often choose nesting sites that offer wide, open views to help them spot potential predators. While their choices can sometimes surprise us, these locations offer the safety and visibility they need to successfully raise their goslings,” the society said.

The humane society also shared tips to share space with geese in the spring, including:

Give them space by giving them a wide berth or taking an alternative route.Keep dogs on a leash around nests to keep the geese from being stressed.Watch for families of geese on the move. They will walk their young to nearby water.Be patient, as most nests are active for under a month before geese move along.

The humane society noted Canada geese are protected under the Migratory Birds Convention Act, which means it is illegal to disturb or move a nest. 

Lisa Veit, the humane society’s executive director, said it’s important to remember geese follow their instincts each spring.

“Returning to the same places, building nests and raising their young — it’s a remarkable reminder that nature is all around us, even in busy, urban spaces.”