Posted by Big Daddy on April 16, 2009
This morning during my lovely commute from Pepperell to Boston, I witnessed something I have never seen before. I saw a truck hit a Goose! Yes, that is right, I saw a truck hit a Goose. For the sake of this story, I am going to name the Goose Ted.
SIDENOTE: For those of you not familiar with Pepperell, it is a nice little town in Central Mass that is 10 minutes from Nashua NH. Amongst the many great things we have in our town like C&S Pizza, China Express and The Spa (yes, we have more than food establishments, but I am not writing a town report here…just things that I like), we also have a fairly large population of wild Geese. Now, back to my story….
It kinda happened really fast so I was not really sure what happened or how this truck came to hit Ted the Goose. All I know is the truck went by me and Ted was just laying in the middle of the road. I wasn’t even sure at 1st if Ted was already up in Goose heaven and already there before the truck went by or not. Maybe he was a victim of an earlier mis-hap? As I looked in my rear view mirror, I could see little Ted slowly trying to move around, feathers blowing around him, while hearing what I am sure were Goose type cries for help as well as a “What the $%#” to the driver of the truck who hit him.
I had to stop my car and just look back at him for a moment. What should I do? If this were a person, I would call 911 and rush to that persons side to do what I could to help them until help arrived. Should I get out of my car and try to help Ted? What could I really do? How do I know Ted won’t bite me? Or if he has some Goose type rabies or something? I just am not educated enough about Geese to know how to handle them. I don’t even have gloves in my car or anything else to protect me in case Ted is a bit angry he was hit and acts up a bit.
Then I noticed all of the other Geese who were parading around in the field make their way to Ted. It was if they knew he was hurt and needed help. There must have been about 15 of them waddling over to him making little noises as well.
I decided that I should probably call the Police to let them know because #1, I did not want the congregation of Geese to get hit while they were tending to Ted in the middle of the road, #2, I thought maybe there was some chance the Animal Control peeps would should up and get Ted to the vet or something or #3, Ted was really hurt and just needed to be put out of his pain.
For some reason, this has been on my mind all day. It was the 1st time I have been a witness to something like this. If this was my dog I would do everything I could to help him and get him to help. But with Ted, I just called the Police and went on my way, afraid to offer him my assistance. It also showed me that Geese must have feelings too. Watching them all come over to Ted showed they could tell something was wrong and he needed help.
So, I am left to wonder if I coud’ve done anything to help poor Ted or how he made out once help arrived. I will be on the lookout over the next few days hoping that I see a Goose out there with a cast or something on. Good Luck Ted.
Trying hard not to sound too much like Cliff Clavin, but in fact geese will fall out of formation to stay with and tend to a sick or injured member of the flock. Two geese will stay with the sick bird until the bird is either healed or dies. (A little tid bit I learned while attending a staff meeting a few months back) Here’s a link that has some cool little facts on geese. http://www.poems.lovecanadageese.com/lessons.html
On a side note, if I am Cliff Clavin does that make you Norm?
Comment by Kate — April 16, 2009 @ 9:10 pm
[...] driver name Diane Ford (Michelle Monaghan), who is required to grow up when her son Peter (Jimmy…93.7 Mike FM Blogs I Witnessed A Hit And Run On A Goose!All I know is the truck went by me and Ted was just laying in the middle of the road. … if Ted was [...]
Pingback by jacked up truck — March 30, 2010 @ 4:45 am
If you ever see something like this sad accident again, PLEASE get the goose to a wildlife rehabilitator (do your research before you need it and locate wildlife rehabbers in your area so you won’t waste precious time while a wild animal needs immediate care). This is why I drive around with asorted size boxes (punched with air holes by a good old scissors)in the trunk of my car, along with a few old towels and blankets. You gently throw the blanket over the animal and you can get it into the box and info your car. A duck or goose can’t really hurt you – they don’t have teeth. They don’t really even pinch hard and they do NOT have rabies or anything communicable.
The sad fact is, the police will probably just kill it. There was a horrible incident a year or 2 ago about a family that came across a goose with a broken wing and leg (both of which could be set), called a policeman expecting help and were horrified when the cop started to club the poor gooser to death; when that didn’t work, he stepped on its neck to suffocate it – all in front of the family, including children. This was completely unnecessary. I NEVER EVER involve the police – for unknown and inexplicable reasons, they never help, they only kill.
Wildlife rehabilitators are wonderful people who dedicate virtually all their time to helping wild creatures. Most take all wildllife, some exclude certain ones, others only take certain ones (thgere is one near me who only handles songbirds.). Please please please familiarize yourself with these people and I guarantee you will feel wonderful knowing that you helped something survive. No, they do not always, but at least they will die in kind and gentle hands instead of repeatedly being hit on the highway or eaten by a predator or killed by an insensitive cop. And always leave a donation – rehabbers exist on the help of the community.
Comment by Arlene Steinberg — January 13, 2011 @ 8:38 pm