PINEVILLE, N.C. — The Carolina Place Mall is a popular place now for Mother's Day, but mall officials are warning shoppers they aren't the only ones flocking to the Pineville shopping epicenter.
Shoppers may think there's construction in the parking lot, but there's not.
A goose is nesting right in the middle of the busy area near Belk.
Mall officials put a water bowl in front of the mother, surrounded her with tape and cordoned off parking spaces so no one disturbs her.
According to the Carolina Waterfowl Rescue this has been happening at the Carolina Place Mall for the past five years, and it is actually safer for geese to nest near the mall instead of a pond.
"Their chances of surviving in the wild where you think they would be nesting is pretty slim because the mother gets eaten a lot of times on the nest," Jennifer Gordon, with Carolina Waterfowl Rescue, said.
Experts said the mother will refuse to leave the nest no matter what predators visit.
Shoppers said they don't mind and are thankful the mall is thinking of all mothers this Mother's Day.
"I think it is awesome, protecting her and her baby, and that is beautiful," Zelda Grant, a shopper, said.
Mall officials have not named the goose and said a male goose stays nearby.
They also warn people not to disturb the mother and to stay beyond the yellow tape if taking photos.
Members of the Carolina Waterfowl Rescue will be checking on the mother goose over the next couple of days, as the eggs are expected to hatch soon.
They will also help the goose and her babies get to an appropriate place once ready.
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