VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — A local wildlife rescue is raising awareness on safety surrounding geese after one was allegedly beaten to death with a shower curtain rod in Virginia Beach.
“We got a text message through the line that a lady had witnessed a gentleman taking a curtain rod, hitting a male goose enough to where it was laying there looking like it was dying,” said Meredith Broadhurst, president of Evelyn’s Wildlife Refuge.
Broadhurst believed the goose was protecting his mate and their nest on Business Park Drive in Virginia Beach. March is the start of nesting season for geese, and that can make them more agitated.
Although she doesn’t know what led up to the attack, she’s upset knowing that education and resources could have prevented the death.
“To have a person have a weapon in their hand, … it tells me he was already prepared to do what he did,” she said. “Otherwise he wouldn’t have had a weapon in his hand and then continue to bludgeon him in the head until he looked like he was dead.”
A rehabilitator went to recover the goose after the attack to see if Evelyn’s could provide it a fighting chance. Despite their efforts, the goose passed away a short while later.
No arrests have been made, but Broadhurst said the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources is investigating the crime. It’s a federal offense since the attack was on a migratory bird.
Evelyn’s Wildlife Refuge encourages people who may be experiencing frustrations with geese or other wildlife to contact them or DWR.
Evelyn’s volunteers will respond to your location, offering ways to mitigate interactions to protect people and the animals.
Broadhurst hopes people recognize just how much the geese rely on each other for survival through deep bonds and choose to help instead of hurt them, especially during their hatching season.
“People don’t realize how bad that they mourn for their babies,” she said about the birds who pair up for life. “And so now you figure this goose is doing the same thing. She’s sitting there mourning for her mate because they’re used to doing together. They take turns on the nest when the eggs hatch, they walk together, guarding the babies, getting them to the waterway and now, … she’s going to be doing it all on her own.”
If you know or saw anything about the attack with the shower curtain rod, you’re encouraged to contact DWR by clicking here.
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