On Thursday Nov. 6th, a concerned client reported an injured goose she saw at the nearby Murrayhill water park. A goose with an injured leg would have a difficult time surviving in the wild, and the water would be its only safe haven. She was one spirited bird, but our brave technicians were able to capture her and bring her in for examination by our veterinarians. We noticed blood along her leg with puncture wounds and road rash.
The Audobon Society of Portland received the injured goose from us the same day to begin treatment and rehabilitation. Audobon notified us that she was recuperating well and is expecting return to the wild within two weeks.
All of us at Murrayhill Veterinary Hospital would like to encourage all drivers to drive slowly past the Murrayhill water park, and keep a look out for geese, ducks and all local wildlife crossing the streets.
Duck crossing sign near the Murrayhill Water Park
The pond is less than a block away from us, so we often see ducks and geese wandering about the sidewalks and lawns. It's a beautiful attraction for the surrounding community and local businesses, but it's not without a few problems.
Seasonal migration for North American water fowl is fraught with hazards, not the least of which is street traffic.
Geese grazing by a busy roadway
Thankfully, most drivers are happy to stop and wait while these birds and their young cross the streets. Once in a while though, one gets hit by a car. It's not so easy to blame the drivers when traffic is heavy, or the sun is in their eyes, or when autumn leaves obscure their view of the ground.
We at Murrayhill ask all drivers to be watchful of pedestrians big and small. |
