Goose gets reflective vest to help protect flock during walks

By Hannah Van De Peer

A 'mother goose' has been kitted out in her own high-vis vest to protect the flock during walks.

Flock owner Kate Macleod, 28, is extra protective of her pets after two families of pet ducks and geese were wiped out by otters.

The family are now protected by Rupert - who sees off any danger and leads the flock, from the front, wherever they go.

And to keep him safe from cars during the flock's frequent walks, Kate had him kitted out in his own mini reflective vest.

It was made by seamstress friend, Hattie Bamsey, 21.

Now, Kate and her flock of four geese feel much safer embarking on their “adventures” along the Hebrides together.

Kate, from Uig, Isle of Lewis, said: “You can just tell Rupert was feeling fancy in her new, one-of-a-kind jacket!

“Since the geese were hand-raised, I am their mother goose.

“They follow me everywhere and we’ve been going on adventures together all their lives - to the beach, the shore, random streams and lochs.”

Kate’s mission to keep her flock safe began in 2017, when her ducks were killed by an otter.

She got geese, thinking their loudness would alarm and deter otters from getting into her farm.

But her first flock of geese was wiped out by a dog otter, and she had to start again from scratch.

“I was devastated,” Kate said.

“These were my babies and I’d raised them from eggs.

“I did some research and ordered some ‘guard goose’ eggs - aka Chinese goose eggs.

“Geese have often been used as protectors throughout history and this breed in particular is large and loud.

“I thought it would alarm intruders and danger.”

In February 2024, Kate moved to her own croft and began her flock again.

She started off with three - including Rupert, who turned out to be female, and gave birth to a baby.

The geese follow Kate, who they see as their “mum,” everywhere she goes - and she decided to take steps to make sure they’re always protected around her.

“With our adventures comes the dangers of walking on the road to get to our destinations,” she said.

“My seamstress friend and I had the ingenious idea of making little hi-vis jackets for them.

“After doing some research, it seemed these were available for chickens - but I couldn’t find anywhere that made them for geese.”

Kate says Rupert, the first in her flock to don a jacket during walks, has been the “prototype.”

She hopes to make more hi-vis jackets in future for the rest of the brood.

“These jackets are still a work in progress,” she added.

“But Rupert was more than happy to test out a prototype!”