I hit a goose and now my neighborhood is at war

[Anonymous]

Yes, I hit a goose and kept driving. We have a pond in our neighborhood that has a goose infestation problem that is the source of many NextDoor and neighborhood list serve threads, with people very involved on both sides, basically leave the geese alone they are nature and they are disgusting and leave poop everywhere let’s get rid of them.

I am on neither side and have never paid much attention.

Today I nicked one, there are probably 30-40 total, and kept going in my car. They are very slow and were crossing and I was thinking I could maneuver around them instead of waiting 5 min for them to cross as they grazed. I was apparently seen and my license taken down and tracked. Currently the source of a debate on both sites.

My plan is to continue to say nothing. Tell me how this is going to turn out. I really don’t want to be the goose killer lady but I am, so I just need to ride this out.

[Anonymous]

...What were you supposed to do? You don't offer CPR to a goose or a squirrel or whatever other roadkill comes.

The neighborhood can hate you and ostracize you, but they don't have any recourse.

[Anonymous]

Did you run it over or did you nick it? I think if you bumped a goose and kept going it's not a big deal.

If you left a dead goose in the middle of the road and went home, even goose haters (hi!) will have a problem with that. You can't leave dead animals in the street and be a good neighbor.

[Anonymous]

I suspect you swerve at squirrel too. Shame.

Get off Next Door!

[Anonymous]

And if you had just stopped and let the birds pass, you wouldn’t be spending time and energy worrying about this now. Hmmm...

[Anonymous]

Haha, oh dear. I think the raging debate is a good indicator of how this turns out. The neighborhood will be forever divided between those who think you did a terrible thing and those who think it's NBD or even actively endorse it.

Just continue to lay low. They can't arrest you for hitting a goose.

[Anonymous]

It’s cold of you to have nicked one or run it over without stopping and at least showing concern. I think it’s cold hearted. You very well know that it doesn’t take five minutes for them to cross the road. You were impatient and could’ve waited.

Now legally speaking, I don’t think anyone can do anything to you and you should just keep quiet and hope your house doesn’t get toilet papered.

[Anonymous]

Given the heated debate on this topic I would probably deny, deny, deny because some of these animal lovers are rabid and thus no excuse, explanation, or apology in the world will appease them. Remember that song "It wasn't me"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did you run it over or did you nick it? I think if you bumped a goose and kept going it's not a big deal.

If you left a dead goose in the middle of the road and went home, even goose haters (hi!) will have a problem with that. You can't leave dead animals in the street and be a good neighbor.

Huh? Of course you can leave a dead animal in the road. I'm not getting out of my car to drag some wild animal carcass to the curb. Or what, put it in my car and drive it to the dump? You must be kidding.

--someone who has never run anything over

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry, this is both hilarious and awful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s cold of you to have nicked one or run it over without stopping and at least showing concern. I think it’s cold hearted. You very well know that it doesn’t take five minutes for them to cross the road. You were impatient and could’ve waited.

Now legally speaking, I don’t think anyone can do anything to you and you should just keep quiet and hope your house doesn’t get toilet papered.

"Show concern"? WTH. You mean look to see if it's injured and take it to the vet??? It's not a pet. You people are crazy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I hit a goose and kept driving. We have a pond in our neighborhood that has a goose infestation problem that is the source of many NextDoor and neighborhood list serve threads, with people very involved on both sides, basically leave the geese alone they are nature and they are disgusting and leave poop everywhere let’s get rid of them.

I am on neither side and have never paid much attention.

Today I nicked one, there are probably 30-40 total, and kept going in my car. They are very slow and were crossing and I was thinking I could maneuver around them instead of waiting 5 min for them to cross as they grazed. I was apparently seen and my license taken down and tracked. Currently the source of a debate on both sites.

My plan is to continue to say nothing. Tell me how this is going to turn out. I really don’t want to be the goose killer lady but I am, so I just need to ride this out.

That cracked me up. Is there another driver in your home you can throw the blame on? Seriously, though, it was an accident. Hopefully your neighbors are reasonable, sane people. You may want to contact an administrator of the listserve and get your info removed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did you run it over or did you nick it? I think if you bumped a goose and kept going it's not a big deal.

If you left a dead goose in the middle of the road and went home, even goose haters (hi!) will have a problem with that. You can't leave dead animals in the street and be a good neighbor.

Huh? Of course you can leave a dead animal in the road. I'm not getting out of my car to drag some wild animal carcass to the curb. Or what, put it in my car and drive it to the dump? You must be kidding.

--someone who has never run anything over

DP- You call the animal control officer to remove it.

Op, the above poster is correct - did you kill it and leave? Leave it in obvious pain and suffering? Or truly nick it and it waffles away?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did you run it over or did you nick it? I think if you bumped a goose and kept going it's not a big deal.

If you left a dead goose in the middle of the road and went home, even goose haters (hi!) will have a problem with that. You can't leave dead animals in the street and be a good neighbor.

Huh? Of course you can leave a dead animal in the road. I'm not getting out of my car to drag some wild animal carcass to the curb. Or what, put it in my car and drive it to the dump? You must be kidding.

--someone who has never run anything over

A Canada goose has a 4 ft wingspan. It's not a squirrel. If you hit an animal that big and are not willing to clean it up yourself, you need to call the city to have it cleaned up. That's common sense. OP's language (saying she was tracked down by license plate) makes me think she did neither. I'd be pissed as a neighbor too, and not because the world is running out of geese.

[Anonymous]

You couldn't wait 5 minutes so they could cross? The pond is their home. Hope the gaggle plan a protest at your home and shit on your lawn