Goose Dies After Removal of Arrow in Its Neck

UPDATE NO. 2, APRIL 16, 5 A.M.: The Egyptian goose with an arrow in its neck underwent surgery to remove the stick but later died Wednesday, Orange County Animal Care announced.

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The investigation continues into whoever wounded the goose, and anyone with information is asked to contact OC Animal Care, even anonymously, at 714.935.6848. The agency's Katie Ingram confirmed the goose was a rare species in the area. “Normally, you see this type of goose in residential ponds or on golf courses,” she told City News Service before the bird was no more. “They are native to Africa. We do see them–there's probably a small population around here, but they're not really a normal bird (in the area).” Despite the arrow in its neck, “This is not a bird people would normally
be hunting,” Ingram said.

UPDATE NO. 1, APRIL 15, 11:17 A.M.: The goose is no longer on the loose! Li'l arrow neck wandered into the office of an Anaheim car wash, where a worker corralled the bird until Orange County Animal Care officers arrived to take him or her into protective custody.

ORIGINAL POST, APRIL 15, 6:36 A.M.: Looks like someone wasn't listening to the plea to “Duck! Duck! Goose!”

Orange County Animal Care is investigating possible cruelty of an Egyptian goose with an arrow in its neck, but before you immigrant bashers in the comments section peanut gallery accuse the feathered friend of being an illegal (taking stale Anaheim Hills pond bread from 'Merican gooses, damnit!), know that OCAC fowl wranglers have not been able to capture the suspect and check his or her green-card status.

It seems bicyclists and pedestrians are allowed to get within a few feet of the goose near the riverbed by La Palma Avenue and Imperial Highway, but it walks, runs or flies away whenever someone in an animal control uniform comes near. So, maybe it is an illegal!

Animal care workers believe the arrow has been lodged in the goose's neck for about two weeks and that it missed all vital organs, which explains why it's eating and flying well. Still, officials would prefer to catch the thing so they can remove the arrow and treat the wound before it causes an infection.

Meanwhile, OCACl believes the arrow shooting was intentional, so it's being investigated as an animal cruelty case, let alone the grounds for a copyright infringement lawsuit from Steve Martin.

Email: mc****@oc******.com. Twitter: @MatthewTCoker. Follow OC Weekly on Twitter @ocweekly or on Facebook!

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