At Riverside Cemetery in Marshalltown, Iowa, staff noticed that Blossom, a goose who lived on the cemetery grounds and pond, was struggling after the passing of her mate, Bud, last August. CBS News reported that Blossom would often sit by the model tombstones, gazing at her own reflection as though searching for a companion.
“She was clearly lonely and isolating herself,” said general manager Dorie Tammen. “It became evident that she needed a partner.”
Determined to help Blossom, Tammen decided to write a personal ad on her behalf to find a new mate. The ad, perhaps the only one ever posted by a goose seeking companionship in a cemetery, read:
“Lonely, widowed domestic goose seeks life partner for companionship and occasional shenanigans. Come share life with me at Riverside Cemetery, where you'll enjoy swimming in the lovely lake, good food, numerous friends, and peeking in the door of the office building at the strange but kind humans there, who feed us lots of goodies. I'm youthful, adventurous, and lively, and I've been told I'm beautiful.”
The ad caught the attention of Deb and Randy Hoyt, whose gander, Frankie, had also recently lost his mate. Frankie, once known as Handsome, was clearly grieving and had been spending a lot of time with his owners. “He was lonely,” Deb Hoyt shared. “He’d hang out with us whenever we were outside. Winters were especially hard since we weren’t outdoors much.”
In a heartwarming twist, Deb and Randy decided to introduce Frankie to Blossom on Valentine’s Day. When they met, Blossom greeted Frankie with open wings, and the two immediately hit it off. Now, they are inseparable.
“They started walking off together and haven’t left each other’s side since,” Tammen said. “They’ve barely been more than a few feet apart.”
Deb also shared a funny moment: when she visits Frankie, Blossom tends to be protective, hissing at her and Randy. “He gets in between us like, ‘Uh, these are my people. Don’t be hissing at them,’” she laughed. “It’s hilarious.”
While it may seem surprising that geese mate for life, this form of monogamy is actually common among many bird species. Geese rely on their monogamous bonds to protect and raise their offspring, ensuring their survival.
Deb is thrilled that Frankie and Blossom have found love again after their losses. “That second chance at love was pretty awesome,” she said. “I think he's happy there.” The story of Frankie and Blossom proves that, just like humans, geese can also find happiness and love again. As the saying goes, “What is good for the goose is good for the gander.”