Injured Canada Goose. What should I do?

[HeatherKellyB]

I was able to get a picture this morning and I believe she isn't doing as well as I first thought. If you zoom in on this picture, you can see the position her foot stays in. I do see a white spot on the top of her foot now that wasn't there before. I'm not sure if there is an abscess there or a new injury. She's also paying more attention to her foot.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

The good news is that she still has an appetite and is eating well.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

 

[DaisyBuff]

Yesterday late morning I noticed about 20 to 25 Canada Geese on our pond. We came out and fed them some floating water fowl feed and left scratch on the bank of the pond. About an hour and a half later, my daughter came in and told me that one of the geese was at the fence that contains an area right outside our back door. ~We keep our 4 ducks in this fenced area because we've been treating one for bumblefoot and another has a chronic limp due to a foot deformity from hatch. The other 2 hang out at the fence the entire day, so we just keep all 4 in the fenced in area. ~ And it was "jumping" at the fence. I found the goose sitting outside the fence. Upon further investigation, the goose is suffering from an injury to its foot or leg. The other geese eventually flew off last night but I don't believe the injured one went with them. I found the injured goose outside the fence again early this afternoon, still unable to use it's left leg/foot. It's able to fly but has to hop around on one foot. It's in the pond right now and we're making sure it's fed (it eats really well) and hydrated anytime it's not in the pond. It does allow me to get kinda close, but not close enough to put my hands on it. I know this goose needs medical attention asap but I worry that if I call the wrong person, this goose will be euthanized without consideration on the injury and the possibility of a positive outcome. On the other side of the road where I live is a gated community that has been working on eliminating the Canada Goose population with lots of effort and backing from the entire community. I am willing to try to help this goose and have an extra set of adult hands to help as well, but I don't want to break the law or harm this goose in any way, nor do I want to cause any problems for my ducks or chickens. I know it's illegal to keep a Canada Goose and I wholeheartedly respect that law, but I can't stand the fact that this goose is suffering. I've lined up help in the event that capturing the goose is ok to do. I needed some of the smartest folks I know to help me figure out how to proceed. If I need some sense talked into me, I will gladly accept that as well. I am just so torn but desperately want to help, if I can in any way.

Im no expert but I can tell you this, Catch the goose if you can use a strong popcicle stick as a splint and use strong waterproof bandage wrap to wrap around it. If bleeding and wounds are present clean the wound before applying bandage. Change as needed.

 

[Goosebaby]

I wonder if she broke her foot in the past or was born with a deformity, she might be bruising it by trying to use it in its present position. If it’s broken it may have healed in the wrong position.

If you do have the opportunity to get a few people to help round her up the best places to grab a hold of her are the base of the wings “strongest” and the head, hold the head firmly enough to hold her but not enough to hurt her, the legs are fragile, if you can get ahold of her head immediately wrap an arm around her torso to pin her wings and if you have a dog carrier keep it on hand to put her in it ASAP.
Maybe start feeding her in an area that’s easier tocorner her.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

@Goosebaby I have thought it was a hatch deformity since about a week after meeting her, because she was able to get along so well on one leg. I spend a lot of time with her and I've never seen her put her foot down. It's always been in the position that it's pictured in. She will stretch her leg straight back and the same wing stretches out at the same time. Whenever she lands, it's always been with her "good" leg and foot. I do notice that landing seems to bring her discomfort but I'm finding it impossible to explain why I feel like that right now and I apologize. If I find the words, I'll reply about it. Anytime her head needs a scratch on that side, she'll bend her head down and lift her leg and foot forward but her foot doesn't open or change position in any way. She does the scratching motion with her head and leg but not the foot and never touches foot to head. She's been doing this a lot more than before and she'll stay in this position without any movement at all, for a bit after the initial "scratching". This is one reason why I have found myself more worried about her today. She spent several hours on my pond this morning and whenever I went out at 2pm and called her, she came hoping up the bank to see what was going on but then decided to not hop all the way to the fenced in area where I was. I've also noticed that she's not hanging out near my ducks and this is where I found her for the first time months ago. Of course my ducks know that she's here because they can see her from behind their chain link fence (my ducks don't free range on my pond anymore since I have a Pekin with chronic bumblefoot- I am treating her & even took her to a vet to be told that they couldn't do anything for her except euthanize but that's a whole other story that my heart is still broken up about) but she has always stayed near them. They were quacking at her from their duck house this morning but their duck house is on a peninsula like area right next to the pond and they only sleep here now. Before, she'd hang out on the pond until I moved the ducks to the fenced in yard and then she'd hang out along the fence. She hasn't been to the fence at all, I don't believe. So these few things are concerning for me. I'm going to call my humane society in just a few minutes.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

@Isaac 0 do you feel like it's in the best interest of the goose, to be put through the stress of capturing her and the traveling hours away? I kind of feel like I need a few days to watch her to make up my mind. I don't like stressing her unless her life depends on it. I feel like a vet will opt for her to be euthanized. After her foot being like this for at least 2 to 3 months (possibly more because I have no idea when this happened or what happened since she's wild), is there anything that could be done, or actually rather should be done, that would improve her quality of life? Regardless, I won't be breaking any laws. If I attempt to capture again, it will be under the advisement of the waterfowl rescue or someone like that again. I would also have to have a plan in place before.
@Goosebaby offered some amazing information too. I'm hoping to get feedback from you both. Since she's still eating so well, I hate for her to be euthanized. I just hate for an animal to be euthanized unless it's the kindest option for the animal.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

The last rehabbers I spoke with advised me to just keep her fed a good and healthy feed and don't stress her. They're wildlife rehabbers if that makes a difference. That's what I decided to do whenever she first started to come here. I'm a bit more concerned about her now.

 

[Goosebaby]

The last rehabbers I spoke with advised me to just keep her fed a good and healthy feed and don't stress her. They're wildlife rehabbers if that makes a difference. That's what I decided to do whenever she first started to come here. I'm a bit more concerned about her now.

If she seems to look like she’s getting worse, sicker, or like she’s not taking care of herself well then I think she wouldn’t be able to survive without some sort of intervention. If she’s doing well, feeding herself and taking care of herself then I think you’re right in not wanting to stress her, there would be no reason too.

I think the rehabbbers are right, just feed her and see how she does.

 

[Isaac 0]

Genetic abnormalities are uncommon in adult wild birds, as any birds with a genetic problem, tend not to be able to fly, or move around very well and get eaten very fast/ taken out of the gene pool. It could be her problem, but I think an injury is more likely.

As far as what to do, I would agree with this post by Goosebaby :

If she seems to look like she’s getting worse, sicker, or like she’s not taking care of herself well then I think she wouldn’t be able to survive without some sort of intervention. If she’s doing well, feeding herself and taking care of herself then I think you’re right in not wanting to stress her, there would be no reason too.

I think the rehabbbers are right, just feed her and see how she does.