North Saanich, British Columbia - May 2022
Cait Oakley was doing what millions of mothers do every day: nursing her 4-month-old daughter Willow in the comfort of her Vancouver Island home. Then Frankie started screaming.
The Attack
Around 6:30 PM on a Monday evening, Frankie - the family's beloved pet goose - came running to the front door in a panic. As Oakley approached to investigate, she saw the reason why: a bald eagle had swooped down and was attacking.
"It had grabbed her by the neck," Oakley recalled.
Without hesitation, the stay-at-home mom of three burst through the door. She was half-dressed. She was still nursing her infant daughter. None of that mattered.
The Chase
Still clutching baby Willow, Oakley sprinted barefoot across her yard and charged directly at the massive raptor. The eagle, startled by the charging mother, loosened its grip on Frankie's neck.
But Oakley didn't stop there. She chased the eagle up the driveway until it finally released its prey and flew away. Frankie ran back home.
"I startled it enough that it didn't get quite a good grip," Oakley explained. "So I chased it up the driveway and it let go."
Why Frankie Matters
Frankie isn't just any goose. She had been living at the family's North Saanich home for a year, alongside her partner Gerald. Together, they had recently adopted some baby running ducks. The family originally got Frankie because geese make excellent natural alarm systems to protect their chickens.
"But she just has such a personality and such a presence," Oakley said. "She's like my fourth child. I was terrified."
Remarkably, after the attack, Frankie emerged completely unharmed. "Not a scratch on her," Oakley confirmed.
Going Viral
What Oakley didn't realize was that her home security camera had captured the entire incident. Her husband posted the footage to TikTok, where it quickly racked up over a million views.
The video even made it to Late Night with Seth Meyers, featured in a segment titled "The Kind Of Story We Need Right Now."
Commenters flooded the video with admiration. Some pointed out the incredible multitasking. Others noted how mothers are always on guard for everything - even their pets. Many started calling her "Mother Goose."
"This Is Mom Life"
When asked about her heroics, Oakley shrugged it off with a phrase that resonated with parents everywhere:
"This is mom life."
Because for Cait Oakley, protecting her family - feathered members included - is just what mothers do.