The prevalence of the goose

Ankeny High School’s (AHS) official mascot is the hawk, but another bird has made itself right at home in the hawk’s nest. The Canadian goose has squawked its way into many aspects of Ankeny High life, from their claim on the courtyard to their significance in school lore and culture. For years now, they have made themselves known, both loved and hated by students and staff alike. 

Of the over 1400 students and nearly 100 staff at AHS, hundreds have stories and opinions about these geese. They’re mentioned in the halls, interacted with on the school grounds, and used to decorate our classrooms. Some of these interactions are innocent, while others lean more on the aggressive side. 

“I think they’re an unavoidable part [of AHS]. They have integrated themselves into Ankeny High School culture,” said Luke Schut, an English teacher and goose enthusiast at AHS, known for his appearance in an Ankeny High School R.A.P. video about goose conspiracy theories. 

Feathered friends

For many, the geese are an accepted and welcome part of AHS, with signs on the courtyard doors warning to avoid tapping the glass in order not to disturb the feathered residents. Teachers are also known to warn against disturbing the geese. 

“Bites is the male goose that usually stands by the cafeteria. Apparently, he’s protecting his eggs and his partner,” senior Charlee Cibula said. 

These signs, put up by students, have the intention of protecting the geese from injury and stress, allowing them to raise the young that are often born in the courtyard. Students express concerns for these birds, and there is a lot of love to be found for them.

“I like to go on walks and, like, there’ll be lots of geese or ducks, and as a little girl, I’d always go to the park and feed geese bread,” Cibula said.

While some simply enjoy the wildlife, happy that their courtyard has been turned into a nursery, others support the geese for more serious reasons.

“We need the geese. The geese keep us in line,” Schut said.

Hissing hasslers

However, just because some students enjoy the diversity in Ankeny’s avian life does not mean the geese are loved by all. Many students complain about the birds’ aggressiveness and often confrontational nature. 

“So just last year, everyone was saying they’d be sitting there at lunch, and the goose would come up and would just aggressively peck the window,” Schut said.

In fact, some students have chosen to fight back. Students have been observed tossing footballs at these long-necked intruders, while others prefer to get up close and personal.

“One time, I was going out to lunch, and when I was walking to my car, I saw this guy, and he was trying to fight the goose,” sophomore Naliya Cheddie shared. “The goose got really mad at him, and he was trying to fly at him. But then the kid was also really mad at the goose, and so he was trying to grab it. And he was screaming really, really loud, but he was completely alone, and it was just him and the goose.”

For some students, it’s more than just a dislike for these waterfowl; it’s utter terror. The Canadian goose, or at least Ankeny’s goose residents, have been noted for their aggressiveness and territorial nature, which has resulted in several close calls.

“I was walking at Parkview around Hawkeye pond, and a bunch (of geese) started attacking me because I had food in my hand, and I had to stand on the picnic table while they were swarming the picnic table,” said sophomore Sara Buttery. “It was the scariest moment in my life.”

Geese culture at AHS

Ankeny High School and the Canadian goose are stuck with each other, as these geese have firmly embedded themselves in our culture and student life. They are so prevalent that some students like to take photos of the geese they see around town and share these photos with others. Teachers even use geese in their lessons. It’s come to the point where one has to ask, which bird is our true mascot?

“We’ve started gathering some goose memorabilia around here,” said Schut. “I have a [toy] stuffed goose. I have a picture of a goose that says, ‘Goose up’. I know Mrs. Hansen has a very large plastic decoy goose.”

While the geese may be giving it their best shot, they have yet to replace the Ankeny Hawk as our mascot. While the goose may invoke more fear and conversation, students still choose the hawk to embody us. 

“They give us something to talk about at school. But other than that, they’re just kind of like a nuisance,” said sophomore Finley Hyde.

Regardless of how you may feel, the geese are here, and there’s no sign of them leaving anytime soon. The only thing we can do is to treat these birds with respect and try to look at them from a new perspective. 

“I don’t see any problem with them. Personally, I think they just kind of add a little bit of positivity to somebody’s day,” Cibula said.