Plotting the Park Goose "Rescue"... *UPDATE - Pg5 - w/pics*

[adrian]

...I'd probably go at night, when there weren't any people around. I've had to intervene at our park before, and even if you get the green light from the people in charge, there are always people who are going to confront you about it. I'd honestly just tell them the truth: these are domestic geese, they cannot survive in the wild or, for that matter, fly, and they have to go live on a farm where they'll be safe from predators.

 

[ultasol]

Fish and wildlife might be the more appropriate resource to call. Here they do selected culls of park geese and smash eggs in order to prevent them from cross breeding with wild geese. They are humane about it and are doing their best to protect our natural resources and migratory waterfowl.

The fact that they do these culls and manage the population leads me to believe they might be the people to contact in regards to the park geese. Either that or park management,... not the shelter or animal control.

 

[chickensioux]

I agree with all of the above. Geese/ducks dumped off at parks, ponds, lakes is a cruel thing to do to domestics. I have taken call ducks off a lake without a second thought. Now I know that they are well fed (bread, crackers, etc is a terrible diet) and predator safe. You would be doing it a favor to rescue it for sure!

 

[Bleenie]

SO I called F&W today and got passed around a couple times... They don't enforce the laws against the dumping of domestic ducks, they deal with only wildlife but they did pass me onto someone who they thought could help me. I left a message and am waiting to hear back from him.

the other couple people weren't sure if it would be okay for me to take them or not so hopefully the director/head guy can give me a better answer...i believe it's the same guy i spoke with about Muscovies a while back.

 

[adrian]

People here do culling, too, but they do it rather viciously and without regard for animal life. Yeah, they smash eggs... After the mother has sat on them for almost a month, and when they are ready to hatch. I know they're viable because I watch over those geese; I candle their eggs, keep tabs on the number they have... Every year, I see them slowly taken away, or smashed; sometimes, smashed all at once when they are ready to hatch. And for that matter, they actually take geese when they're molting, in huge trucks, and dump them in new places where they are entirely helpless. They know they'll be killed; this is the point.

I don't really trust these people to care about the lives of a couple birds. They certainly did not offer help for me at any point, and once when I entrusted an injured goose in their care - mildly injured, mind you - I called to ask on his status and he had been euthanized.

Just... be careful.

 

[Bleenie]

Well someone with the City of Puyallup called me back and said that it was not legal for me to remove the birds from the park. I guess that makes me a criminal for taking the injured bird the other day then huh? i really don't care.

they also just told me they do nothing as far as population control and they're just there for the people to enjoy. Do they really expect people to enjoy a duck/goose with a broken/twisted/injured body part????

these people really piss me off. i am going to try and find a few people to help me out with the geese and i guess we will just have to take care of the problem without permission. I am still waiting to hear back from the Parks director and hopefully this guy has a good head on his shoulders and realizes there's a problem, but i am not feeling very optimistic today.

Anyone in the nearby area interested in rescuing some ducks?
I will get pictures next time i stop by the park.

 

[ultasol]

What is the point of asking permission if you never intended to let lack of permission stop you? Now you are willfully breaking the law. Frankly, when these ducks are not kept in captivity they are 'feral' ducks and subject to the same environmental/population pressures as wild animals. They are subject to darwinian pressures (survival of the fittest), population control by predation, population control by limited resources (too little food, nesting space, shelter, etc).

The other issue I see with this is the introduction of diseases or other problems that might occur.

Be careful.

 

[adrian]

Most people are too dumb to understand what you're even talking about.

It is illegal to remove a wild goose; it is not illegal to remove a domestic goose that has been dumped. In many states, it is illegal to dump these birds, and people are urged to adopt them. People often do. I have noticed that authorities are idiots, in general, and I hate to be so blunt but in my experience, it is true. I once called regarding a domestic goose and the guy asked me, "There are domestic geese?" He had no idea! They probably think you're talking about Canada geese.

It is best not to even alert these people to what you are planning, because now they might be on the lookout for you, or any "missing" birds. If I were in the area, I would help you collect them, and I would do it at night when no one is around and all the geese are quiet and asleep.

As far as the introduction of diseases, quarantine them. That's the solution. Ducks and geese are hardy animals. There aren't many diseases among them. If there are no noticeable symptoms, you're probably fine.

 

[jojo@rolling acres farm]

Bleenie, I can't be there with you - but girl, I'm right beside you in Spirit. I agree with the thought that they may not know its a domestic goose - big dif.

 

[Bleenie]

I would rather have done this the "right" way, but you're probably right, the dumb, rude woman probably did think i was talking about a Canadian Goose, she tried to tell me it was illegal to remove birds from the park. She just repeated herself when i said well isn't it illegal to dump them there in the first place? why can't i adopt them?

I think my sister and mother are going to help me get them, even if we have to do it one at a time. I still have to check around for the Embden though. I was going to today but have had people coming by all day and haven't felt so great since i had some teeth pulled yesterday. the pain meds are making my head all swimmy

I do have a pen across the property to quarantine them in. at least i know they're good with ducks!

I will let you guys know what happens.