NEWS

Goose, nest set on fire being rehabilitated at Back-to-the-Wild

Jessica Denton
Reporter

CASTALIA – Authorities are looking for a suspect who burned a Canada goose last week.

On May 1, a suspect lit cigarette butts on fire and tossed them in a Canada goose's nest near the Erie County Services building, right next to the dog pound.

The female goose, who had six eggs in her nest, stayed in to protect her babies and subsequently caught on fire.

A man and his daughter found the goose, who had begun plucking her smoldering tail-feathers out with her beak, scorching her tongue.

A Canada goose feathers were burnt after she and her nest were set on fire last week near the Erie County Services building. The goose is under the care of Back-to-the-Wild Wildlife Rehabilitation Center staff in Castalia.

Back-to-the-Wild manager Heather Yount said the crime was unlike anything they had ever seen.

"It's not often we see something so malicious. You don't see someone torture an animal like this," Yount said.

The duo acted quickly, grabbing the goose and putting the flames out the best they could and grabbing the burnt eggs as well.

The injured bird was then taken in by Back-to-the-Wild Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Castalia, where she is being cared for around the clock.

Yount said about 90 percent of the injuries to animals are from human carelessness, like leaving items out that animals eat or get trapped in. They don't usually get animals who have been deliberately hurt in the way the Canada goose was.

"This was just torturous, I don't see why someone would do that to a living creature," she said.

The goose has begun to recover and is eating a lot but the damage to her feathers may hinder her ability to fly ever again. She was burnt to the down feathers, almost to her skin. Her webbed feet were spared by her sitting on the eggs, Yount said.

It's possible the eggs she was trying so hard to protect may not hatch, though the staff has them in an incubator at the center just in case. Exposure to extreme heat can kill the embryos.

Canada goose eggs may not hatch after the nest was set on fire.

On Wednesday, Yount and animal caregiver Alicia Goshe worked to get the goose into a carrier to take her to a specialist on the west side of Cleveland.

The goose hissed as she was picked up like a football by Goshe.

"It's caused her immense pain and stress," Yount said. "I don't blame her for being wary of people."

The group hopes authorities are able to catch the suspect or suspects who harmed the bird and her eggs.

Despite Canada geese being a 'nuisance' to some people, they are a federally protected under the Federal Migratory Bird Act of 1918.

This act makes it illegal to harm or injure a goose and damage or move its eggs and nest, without a federal permit. Not complying with the federal act can result in fines ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 and this also applies to an untrained dog's actions.

Both Ohio State Wildlife Officers and federal officers have been contacted about the crime.

Also accompanying the goose on the travel to North Ridgeville was a young male bald eagle who had been injured in a territorial battle.

The nearly-five year old bird had been found in a field on Sandhill Road in Bellevue in Huron County, unable to fly.

This time of the year eagles are very territorial, with many protecting their eaglets from intruders. It's likely the young male fought with another eagle and was cut by its sharp talons or beak.

The staff at Back-to-the-Wild have been working to treat and dress the eagle's wound on his wing.

"He's been healing up nicely but wanted to have Dr. Lindstrom take a look at him," Yount said.

Canada goose heals at Back-to-the-Wild Wildlife Rehabilitation Center after she and her nest were set on fire.

Dr. Jamie Lindstrom is an avian specialist at Animal Clinic Northview in North Ridgeville who often helps the center with injured birds.

On Wednesday, Lindstrom was expected to take x-rays of both birds and see what they could do about the Canada goose's feathers, as well see if the eagle needed any surgery or more extensive care.

"We're really hoping he can be a success story for us," Sammie Villa, a supervisor with the center, said.

jdenton@gannett.com

419-734-7506

Twitter: @jessicadentonNH

Heather Yount, manager at Back to the Wild, transports a male Bald Eagle to the veterinarian. The eagle was injured in a territorial fight in Huron County and taken in by the staff at the wildlife rehabilitation center in Castalia.