I hit a goose and now my neighborhood is at war

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So I actually work at Fish and Wildlife Service. Canada geese are a federally protected species under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (ridiculous in the case of these nuisance birds!) It is illegal to harm or kill these birds. You actually can be arrested. I would definitely lay low, don't admit fault and if confronted say it was an accident. Cry a little.

https://www.fox19.com/story/14531161/man-arrested-for-deliberately-killing-canada-goose/

Oh, wow! I can't believe they're protected!

Resident geese though...different rules.

So you tagged each goose and know which are resident and which are migratory? Yeah, didn’t think so.

That’s not how it works. Do some research before making an asshat of yourself. Tagging has zero to do with it.

[Anonymous]

Op - I’m sorry they are spreading this ridiculous Propa-gander about you on the websites.

[Anonymous]

OP here with an update:

Debate has now turned to if it is illegal to bury an animal on the HOA owned property around the pond, with several confession of someone who buried their dog on their property and there is a whole side bar topic about that.

I am now a little nervous there is going to be some sort of law enforcement type thing at my house and my husband says I’m being batty (he’s not funny).

Apparently there is nothing in the by laws about this issue, but now being debated if it’s a state or federal or wildlife issue.

And finally to clear up some questions:

When I said grazing, I meant they were spread across 2 lawns across the street from each other and in the roads, and seemed to be eating grass? No idea if they do.

I did wait a minute, but they were all just sitting there so I tried to maneuver around them and got one.

I was not going to Whole Foods.

This is actually a big problem for me and I have had some friends suggest i write a response but I have no idea what to write so I’m going to pretend I don’t know anything about it.

I’m never on these sites so it would make sense.

If they come to my door I’m going to feign confusion.

Have I covered all scenarios here? I can’t undo this

H

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So I actually work at Fish and Wildlife Service. Canada geese are a federally protected species under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (ridiculous in the case of these nuisance birds!) It is illegal to harm or kill these birds. You actually can be arrested. I would definitely lay low, don't admit fault and if confronted say it was an accident. Cry a little.

https://www.fox19.com/story/14531161/man-arrested-for-deliberately-killing-canada-goose/

Oh, wow! I can't believe they're protected!

Resident geese though...different rules.

So you tagged each goose and know which are resident and which are migratory? Yeah, didn’t think so.

That’s not how it works. Do some research before making an asshat of yourself. Tagging has zero to do with it.

Stop making stuff up. All Canada geese are protected under the MBTA, resident and migratory. From the FWS website:

Q. Are Canada Geese migratory?

Yes and no. Some migratory Canada goose populations are not going as far south in the winter as they used to. This northward range shift has been attributed to changes in farm practices that makes waste grain more available in fall and winter, as well as changes in hunting pressure and changes in weather. Resident Canada geese have increased in urban and suburban areas in recent years; just a decade or two after people intentionally introduced or reintroduced “giant” Canada geese to various areas, they are often considered pests. All species of Canada geese are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act; however, if you are a landowner, homeowner’s association, public land manager, or local government in the lower 48 states or the District of Columbia, you may be able to register for federal authorization to destroy resident Canada Goose nests and eggs on property under your jurisdiction.

It also gives a number where people can call to report OP....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op - I’m sorry they are spreading this ridiculous Propa-gander about you on the websites.

Websites, good one!

[Anonymous]

Just apologise profusely stating that you didn’t realize you’d hit the bird and are just heartbroken it has died. And NEVER hit a goose again that was brutal. Really.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here with an update:

Debate has now turned to if it is illegal to bury an animal on the HOA owned property around the pond, with several confession of someone who buried their dog on their property and there is a whole side bar topic about that.

I am now a little nervous there is going to be some sort of law enforcement type thing at my house and my husband says I’m being batty (he’s not funny).

Apparently there is nothing in the by laws about this issue, but now being debated if it’s a state or federal or wildlife issue.

And finally to clear up some questions:

When I said grazing, I meant they were spread across 2 lawns across the street from each other and in the roads, and seemed to be eating grass? No idea if they do.

I did wait a minute, but they were all just sitting there so I tried to maneuver around them and got one.

I was not going to Whole Foods.

This is actually a big problem for me and I have had some friends suggest i write a response but I have no idea what to write so I’m going to pretend I don’t know anything about it.

I’m never on these sites so it would make sense.

If they come to my door I’m going to feign confusion.

Have I covered all scenarios here? I can’t undo this

H

Feigning confusion and pretending to know nothing about it will just make them madder. They know you know. You should hope nobody is on DCUM and sees you laughing about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm so confused by some of the responses. Yes, OP was an ass for not waiting. And she absolutely, 100% should have called animal control to clean up the body. But other than that . . . people really think she should have stopped and gotten out of the car to . . .do what? I'm trying to picture myself in that situation, and I would definitely call 311, but am I supposed to stay at the scene until animal control comes or something? I imagine I would call 311 and leave after reporting it, right? I don't have any tool in may car that would enable me to move a large goose, and I'm certainly not touching a wild animal with my bare hands. So, other than calling animal control, what was OP supposed to stop and do? How long should she have waited at the scene?

No, nobody suggested OP wait with the body. But she should have called animal control so her neighbors didn’t have to deal with her mess, in this case apparently burying it.

The foxes and vultures will make short work of it tonight and tomorrow. By Wednesday it'll be fox poop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here with an update:

Debate has now turned to if it is illegal to bury an animal on the HOA owned property around the pond, with several confession of someone who buried their dog on their property and there is a whole side bar topic about that.

I am now a little nervous there is going to be some sort of law enforcement type thing at my house and my husband says I’m being batty (he’s not funny).

Apparently there is nothing in the by laws about this issue, but now being debated if it’s a state or federal or wildlife issue.

And finally to clear up some questions:

When I said grazing, I meant they were spread across 2 lawns across the street from each other and in the roads, and seemed to be eating grass? No idea if they do.

I did wait a minute, but they were all just sitting there so I tried to maneuver around them and got one.

I was not going to Whole Foods.

This is actually a big problem for me and I have had some friends suggest i write a response but I have no idea what to write so I’m going to pretend I don’t know anything about it.

I’m never on these sites so it would make sense.

If they come to my door I’m going to feign confusion.

Have I covered all scenarios here? I can’t undo this

H

Oh jeez OP - I'm sorry that something so innocent on your part has gotten so out of control.

Turn off the lights. lock your doors. Delete your Nextdoor Account. Get a security camera.

[Anonymous]

Cruella DeGoose

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm so confused by some of the responses. Yes, OP was an ass for not waiting. And she absolutely, 100% should have called animal control to clean up the body. But other than that . . . people really think she should have stopped and gotten out of the car to . . .do what? I'm trying to picture myself in that situation, and I would definitely call 311, but am I supposed to stay at the scene until animal control comes or something? I imagine I would call 311 and leave after reporting it, right? I don't have any tool in may car that would enable me to move a large goose, and I'm certainly not touching a wild animal with my bare hands. So, other than calling animal control, what was OP supposed to stop and do? How long should she have waited at the scene?

No, nobody suggested OP wait with the body. But she should have called animal control so her neighbors didn’t have to deal with her mess, in this case apparently burying it.

The foxes and vultures will make short work of it tonight and tomorrow. By Wednesday it'll be fox poop.

In your subdivision you regularly leave corpses lying by the side of the road, or in this case in the middle of the road, so the vultures can feast on the meat and leave the bloody skeletons? OK.

[Anonymous]

Lawyer up, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here with an update:

Debate has now turned to if it is illegal to bury an animal on the HOA owned property around the pond, with several confession of someone who buried their dog on their property and there is a whole side bar topic about that.

I am now a little nervous there is going to be some sort of law enforcement type thing at my house and my husband says I’m being batty (he’s not funny).

Apparently there is nothing in the by laws about this issue, but now being debated if it’s a state or federal or wildlife issue.

And finally to clear up some questions:

When I said grazing, I meant they were spread across 2 lawns across the street from each other and in the roads, and seemed to be eating grass? No idea if they do.

I did wait a minute, but they were all just sitting there so I tried to maneuver around them and got one.

I was not going to Whole Foods.

This is actually a big problem for me and I have had some friends suggest i write a response but I have no idea what to write so I’m going to pretend I don’t know anything about it.

I’m never on these sites so it would make sense.

If they come to my door I’m going to feign confusion.

Have I covered all scenarios here? I can’t undo this

H

Oh jeez OP - I'm sorry that something so innocent on your part has gotten so out of control.

Turn off the lights. lock your doors. Delete your Nextdoor Account. Get a security camera.

+1. Don't let your kids go to school, they'll be grilled by neighborhood kids who are spying for their parents.

[Anonymous]

Op,

The geese are invasive. Protected yes, but a nuisance all the same. They were artificially introduced into this area and no longer migrate as they were meant to.

I love birds, but in this case say nothing, do nothing. I don’t condone what you did, but in the grand scheme, it will do nothing to eradicate the goose population. Clear your conscience.

[Anonymous]

OP assuming that you did not accelerate and gun your engine in an attempt to mow down the entire flock at 60 MPH in a fit of avian directed rage then do not worry about law enforcement. People on next-door can debate all they want but the only type of person who would get in trouble for hitting a stupid goose would be someone who did it intentionally as a fun thing to do.

Police will pursue intentional acts of extreme animal cruelty because people who do this can escalate to people. The police do not care about a goose.

For your crazy neighbor who buried the goose, my suggestion would be to switch cars with your husband. A loony neighbor will be less likely to confront him than you. You could also change your schedule up a bit for tomorrow. Chances are the person who decided to give the goose a proper burial will be waiting to see if they can spot you.

For Next-door, either ignore or contact the moderator to get the posts removed. Before you do this though click on the profiles and see whether the goose crazies live near you or not. Next-door can include a broader range of neighborhoods. You may have only one loony in your neighborhood and the other people piping in are from further away. Once the thread is deleted you can't see who the crazy people are on the thread.

If anyone does come to your door just tell them that you had no idea that you hit a goose. Tell them that you maneuvered around them and did not notice or feel anything.