As you may recall from our alert earlier this week, dozens of flightless domestic geese and several ducks were suffering from dehydration and fear as the
pond they have called home since the 1980s had dried up, due to California’s severe drought. The birds were wandering the parched ground suffering
from the lack of water. Each night they were threatened by predators with no water to escape into. Some had already died as a result of their situation.
They needed our help without delay, so on Tuesday morning, August 5, United Poultry Concerns, Carolina Waterfowl Rescue, Hen Harbor and Direct Action Everywhere
gathered in Woodland to mount a rescue. Thanks to UPC members, the city of Woodland received many calls and e-mails this week, urging them to relocate the
birds. City officials, including the Director of Public Works and the City Manager, sprang into action Tuesday morning, aiding animal rescuers with
all-terrain vehicles and a crew of city workers on hand to help.
When we arrived at the site, the birds stood in the middle of a dry lakebed. We set up soft fencing in a large V shape that narrowed to a closed pen just
big enough for the flock. We then started slowly circling the outer rim of the dry pond carefully herding them into the fencing. It went smoothly, with
little stress to the birds. We then carefully transferred them into the crates which we loaded onto the all-terrain vehicles. We are grateful to the city
of Woodland for providing the vehicles and assisting the rescue, as it was rough terrain and hauling the crates by hand would have been extremely
difficult.
The crated birds were then loaded into vans for their ride to Bakersfield, California, where a large lake awaits them. They will first be assessed for any
medical needs and isolated for observation and treatment if necessary, but soon they will be bathing, playing and enjoying a large body of water–a
waterfowl’s greatest joy!
Thank You to our energetic members who made calls and sent e-mails. Your pleas made a difference! We are so delighted that the geese and ducks will soon be
swimming safe in their new home. We thank Carolina Waterfowl Rescue, Direct Action Everywhere, Hen Harbor, Harvest Home Animal Sanctuary and all the volunteers who donated the crates and supplies that helped
make this rescue successful.
News coverage of the rescue:
Woodland Geese Rescued From Dried Up Pond