EDMONTON – The latest animal in the care of the Wildlife Rehabilitation Society of Edmonton is a Canada goose that was shot with an arrow and ended up on a golf course.
The group posted some information and photos on its Facebook page Thursday, saying the bird was finally caught at the Colonaile Golf Course in Beaumont after landing there, injured, two weeks ago.
The wildlife society was contacted by the Beaumont RCMP.
“Two of their officers were able to capture it and they immediately brought it in to us,” said Kim Blomme. “They were both very concerned about it because the arrow that was in it was not a hunter’s arrow; it was more of a recreational type of an arrow that had been shot through the bird.”
Thursday, Cst. Robyn Hunt and her colleagues arrived at the 18th hole and found the goose.
“When we went to the golf course, he was sort of standing by himself. The flock was separated from him,” said Hunt.
“You could very clearly see a long arrow right through its chest. I felt really bad for him… he sort of looked like he was being shunned by the other geese.”
She said it took them about half an hour to wrangle the bird.
“He was able to walk, run, fly, swim, so it took a bit of time to get him in a good position to catch him.”
Once they captured the goose, they put a blanket on him to calm him down before transporting him to the detachment.
“He was actually a nice goose,” said Hunt. “He wasn’t angry at us or anything.”
Once they arrived at the detachment, the officers had to figure out where they could take the goose for medical attention.
“We obviously didn’t want to leave him in a car or truck. So we placed him in one of the detachment’s cells,” said Hunt. “Where he could walk around and everything and still remain contained.”
“Never had a goose in cells,” she added with a smile.
The Wildlife Rehabilitation Society of Edmonton said, luckily, the arrow didn’t cause much damage.
“The arrow went straight through, just below the neck of the goose,” the Facebook post reads.
“Though, obviously, the arrow caused damage, it luckily did not puncture its trachea or esophagus, or affect any bones. The arrow was removed, and animal care staff cleaned the wound. This goose will need continual wound management, antibiotics, pain medication, and possibly surgery.”
The Wildlife Rehabilitation Society is also accepting donations from anyone who wants to help contribute to the care of the goose.
Town of Beaumont Animal Control also helped capture the injured goose and the wildlife rehabilitation group thanked Sgt. Derek Radatzke and Peace Officer K. Stevens for bringing the bird to the wildlife hospital.
WARNING: Some of the photos in the gallery below are graphic in nature. Discretion is advised.
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