Mr. Goose honks at a teasing passerby after a cattle branding near Meeteetse. He seems to suffer from identity confusion as do some of Hollywood’s famous animals like Babe the Pig — Mr. Goose thinks he’s a cow.

Tribune photo by Kara Bacon

A western adventure with Bacon and the Hogg Family

Canada geese are no new sight for the eyes on Wyoming’s landscapes. They trumpet their presence, soar the usually blue skies and paddle through our waters. They have also been known to attack ornery fishermen.

Yet, at a cattle branding?

From the time Wes Hogg, his dad, Allen, and a few local friends began corralling the cattle for a recent branding (as seen in the May 5 Tribune), they had an extra ranch hand.

Well, he wasn’t helping anyone. Just hanging out.

Apparently, the goose had been hanging out with the cows and around the corral before the branding. Kristine Hogg (Wes’s mom) said the goose had showed up and picked someone to follow when they went to the corral to work cows. This was the third time he came to hang around.

“He” is an assumption — I don’t know that much about the creatures. I did think I knew enough that they don’t just follow cows and hang out with humans.

By 9 a.m. when the branding was in full swing, more and more people were showing up to aid the Hoggs in their branding. Mr. Goose stayed around.

Periodically, someone would announce the whereabouts and activities of Mr. Goose.

“Look at him. He’s only 2 feet from Bill. What is he doing?”

A mischievous cowboy chased him off.

Mr. Goose flew in a large circle around the corral and landed back inside the fencing.

“He thought he was a cow!” exclaimed Kristine.

After all the calves had their new marking, Mr. Goose was still hanging around. He had sequestered himself in a side pen and stayed there.

People gathered around Mr. Goose and tried to talk to him, only getting honked at. One person tried to feed him a Skittle (He didn’t fall for it).

He just hung out in a small corner of the pen never taking flight.

“I’m kind of excited to have a goose,” said Wes.

Mr. Goose adds to the pheasants, chukars, cows, dogs and cats at the Hogg Ranch outside of Meeteetse near the Pitchfork Ranch.

As lunchtime neared, most everyone flocked to the house for homemade pulled pork sandwiches, chocolate cake and beer.

Wes and Allen laid hay in the pasture for the soon-to-be released calves and cows.

On the way to the house, Mr. Goose was standing in the middle of the road. Stopping his four-wheeler, Wes jumped out to pet Mr. Goose and started calling to him like you would a pet dog.

A very slow chase ensued, never getting faster than a slow jog.

With no success and a growling tummy, Wes gave up on the pursuit.

Later, with full stomachs and fighting drowsiness, murmurs could be heard among the 40 or people about “that damn goose.”

Since the cows have been out to pasture, Mr. Goose hasn’t been around the corral. Kristine guesses he is hanging out with the other geese in the area.

Perhaps he finally realized he is a bird, not a bovine.

(Wes Hogg is the housemate of Tribune writer Kara Bacon. For real, no fooling. Have a giggle courtesy of us.)