Operation Hatch 'Em: Mama Goose Builds Nest At Costco, Staff Guard It

ORLAND PARK, IL — A mama goose and her eggs are safe and sound in the parking lot of Costco in Orland Park, under the watchful eye of protective employees and blocked off from customers.

A goose nest was first spotted on a median in the parking lot of the store, 9915 W. 159th St, in mid-April, and staff were scratching their heads at how best to handle the incubating eggs—and two very protective parents.

A Costco employee reached out to the Village for guidance, but after a suggestion to destroy the nest, then contacted the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. A migratory bird biologist explained that the Canadian goose is federally protected; staff committed to doing what they could to keep the mama and her eggs safe during the incubation period.

Staff surrounded the area with safety fencing and looped in employees on their newly nested, feathered expecting mama. Father goose can be seen on the parking lot perimeter, ready to take over warming the nest if the mother goose needs a break.

Guarding the nest is now practically a staff-wide endeavor, the employee, who asked not to be named, told Patch.

"I'm an animal lover, so of course I'm all-in for this," they said. "I have all the cart crew on alert to watch the nest, to make sure everyone stays away from the area."

The countdown to hatch date began from the first sighting of the mother sitting on the nest, which the employee said was April 19. Based on that date and the estimated incubation period, the eggs are expected to hatch between May 11 and 16. It's all eyes on the nest until then.

"I’m there almost every day," they said. "Every day I go past there, I’m watching her sitting on the nest."

The employee said they're mindful not to feed the goose, and ask that customers also not throw any food her way. Most important now is to leave her be during the final countdown.

"We'd like to let people know to give her space," they said. "Don’t feed her, because they eat grass, they eat algae. She can forage for herself. ... We don’t want to make pets out of them."

Once hatched, the goslings will be mobile almost immediately, and will waddle their ways to the pond behind the store. Staff have a plan for that, too.

"Within 24 hours of all of them hatching, they are going to head right for that water, and it’s not going to be in a straight line," the employee told Patch, laughing.

"We have everyone prepared to block off the aisles so they can make it safely to the water."

Once the eggs have hatched, the nest will be abandoned, they said.

"From what I’m told, they’ll be pretty protective of that nest and the goslings," they said. "Once they leave the nest, they won’t come back to it."

Employees are as anxious and anticipatory as family members pacing a hospital waiting room.

"We’re all kind of excited," they said. "Which day is it gonna be?!

"It’s so sweet, I just wanted everyone to know—Costco’s doing our part to protect the birds."