Deer becomes goose's protector

BUFFALO, N.Y., April 12 (UPI) -- Witnesses said an adult deer has taken over the role of protecting a mother goose preparing to hatch her eggs in New York state as a single parent.

Locals in Buffalo said the goose, a species known to mate for life, lost her male partner and would have been left defenseless while protecting her eggs in an empty cemetery urn if a deer had not stepped in to guard the expectant mother, WGRZ-TV, Buffalo, reported Tuesday.

Passersby said the deer places itself between the goose and approaching humans or animals. The deer was once seem to take up a protective stance to ward off a barking dog, they said.