Call it a case of one mother looking out for another.
As Caitlin Oakley was breastfeeding her four-month-old daughter Willow Monday evening, as part of her bedtime routine, she heard the familyB次元官网网址檚 pet goose Frankie outside. Frankie has been living for a year at the North Saanich home, alongside her goose partner Gerald, with whom she has recently adopted some baby running ducks.
But while Gerald was looking after the chicks, Frankie had wandered off. Sensing danger, Frankie did what she has always done in these situations.
B次元官网网址淪he always comes to the door when she feels threatened, or when there is something in the yard that shouldnB次元官网网址檛 be in the yard,B次元官网网址� said Oakley.
That something was a bald eagle, which had swooped down just as Oakley was coming to the door to see what was going on B次元官网网址� with Willow in her arms, mind you.
B次元官网网址淪o I flung the door open,B次元官网网址� said Oakley. The move startled the eagle, which then grabbed its would-be dinner by the neck, dragging Frankie up the driveway. B次元官网网址淚 just ran (after it) and it let go.B次元官网网址�
Oakley said the fact that she was breastfeeding the youngest of her three children B次元官网网址� she has also two sons B次元官网网址� did not register at all. B次元官网网址淭here was no awareness,B次元官网网址� she said of the occasion. B次元官网网址淚t was just go B次元官网网址� fight or flight mode for sure.B次元官网网址�
RELATED:
This quick reaction, coupled with repeated verbal warnings aimed at the eagle, has elicited a wide range of congratulatory responses with the clip of OakleyB次元官网网址檚 rescue going viral.
When asked how she has reacted to the reactions her heroics have generated, Oakley takes it with humour. B次元官网网址淲e just think itB次元官网网址檚 so fun (and) hilarious. ItB次元官网网址檚 light-hearted, itB次元官网网址檚 a good ending. It brought a little light to people.B次元官网网址�
But it has also confirmed what many already know but does not necessarily get the attention it deserves.
B次元官网网址淎s moms, we are constantly on the go, we are constantly aware, especially if you are a mom with multiple kids, you always have an ear going. Yeah, itB次元官网网址檚 proof that we are always multitasking,B次元官网网址� said Oakley.
As for Frankie, she appears no worse off for the experience.
B次元官网网址�(ThereB次元官网网址檚) not a scratch on her,B次元官网网址� said Oakley. B次元官网网址淪he is herself. She is friendly, wandering down the yard with us. She was with us all day yesterday. B次元官网网址�
Oakley said the family got Frankie because of her ability to act as a natural warning system to help protect the familyB次元官网网址檚 chickens. B次元官网网址淏ut she just has such a personality and such a presence. She is her own little individual animal. She follows us around and the kids feed her.B次元官网网址�
Thanks to Oakley, Frankie did not become dinner and now finds herself as the unlikely co-star of a mommy-slash-action flick.
Do you have a story tip? Email: vnc.editorial@blackpress.ca.
Follow us on and and like us on
