Mario, who was originally named Maria by locals and assumed to be female, was familiar to users of the park for several years as a goose which preferred the company of humans to that of his own species, often pecking at homeless people or following walkers and runners around.
Ehrler continued to visit Mario at the zoo and stated his intention to maintain the friendship and follow the gander to his new home,[4] also raising the possibility of moving to Oregon with him.
[6] Mario also appeared in the 2010 music video for the song "End Love" by the rock band OK Go, which has received over 15 million views on YouTube.
[4][7] Dubbed "Orange Bill" by the band and production crew, they allowed the goose to appear prominently in the video after he bit guitarist Andy Ross during filming at the park.
The nine-year-old goose resided at the Winnick Family Children's Zoo for the last seven years until his passing on Friday, June 29 due to old age.