• Police at Eastern Michigan University say a male goose is being aggressive toward people in a campus parking lot.
  • Officers released surveillance footage of the goose flying directly toward a person on Tuesday.
  • University officials said the goose is trying to protect his nest from passersby, and encouraged staff and students to stay away from the bird.
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Officials at Eastern Michigan University are warning staff and students about a Canada goose that has been terrorizing passersby in a campus parking lot.

Police at the Ypsilanti, Michigan, university released surveillance footage of the male goose flying directly toward a person on Tuesday.

Geoffrey Larcom, executive director of media relations for EMU, told the Detroit Free Press that the goose is trying to protect his nest.

"There have been several people who have walked by the area, and the male goose has said, 'Keep your distance,' essentially. But we're not aware of any injury reports," he said.

Larcom added that it's nesting season, and Ypsilanti's Huron River is a popular area for geese.

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He told MLive that students and staff should stay away from geese in the area and urged people not to take selfies with the birds.

"The male was the one attacking and the female was the one guarding the eggs," Larcom said. "A few students have tried to take selfies of the geese when they are hissing, but we advise against that."

According to Michigan's Department of Natural Resources, there are approximately 300,000 Canada geese living in the state.

"Occasionally geese nest in inappropriate sites, such as in shrubbery near buildings or parking lots," the department said on its website. "They can demonstrate aggressive behavior toward people while defending their nesting territory."