Latest news with #geese
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Daily Mail
Urgent hunt for e-bike rider after geese are killed and injured in 'distressing' hit-and-run crash
Several geese have been mowed down and killed in an e-bike attack by a rider who drove straight in to a flock at high speed. The RSPCA is appealing for any information on the man who killed the animals near the canal path by Anchor Field in Leigh in Greater Manchester at 7pm on Friday, July 18. Several geese were directly hit and injured while one was put to sleep because of its injuries. One bird was found with catastrophic injuries, including a collapsed neck, heavy bleeding, and a possible eye wound. A second bird bleeding heavily, managed to escape back on to the water but has not been spotted since and is believed to have died from its injuries. According to the animal charity and several witnesses, the man was riding at speed when he struck the geese in what has been described as a 'distressing act'. The public are being encouraged to come forward with any information on the attacker who has been described as in his 20s or 30s, of a medium build and with 'curtain-style' hair. He was seen hurtling down the canal path on a blue e-bike with his face partially covered by a cap. RSPCA Inspector Rachel Whalley said: 'This was an extremely distressing act. These poor birds would have had no way to escape the high speed of the scooter, and the injuries described are truly horrific. 'Whether it was lack of care or intentional, the driver of the scooter did not stop to check on the geese. 'We're incredibly concerned and keen to speak to anyone who may be able to shed some light on what happened here.' Greater Manchester Police are not investigating the incident as it is being dealt with by the RSPCA. The RSPCA is asking for any CCTV or Ring doorbell footage from homes in the Anchor Field, Vulcan Gate or Canalside Gardens area of Leigh, from around 7pm on July 18. Anyone with any information is asked to contact the RSPCA appeals line number on 0300 123 8018 and refer to incident number 01580380. For more information about how to report an incident of animal cruelty, visit the RSPCA website.
BBC News
03-08-2025
- BBC News
'Celebrity' geese get their own calendar
Check out these flock-stars.A gaggle of 'celebrity' geese in the town of March, Cambridgeshire, are waddling their way into a 2026 over ten years, around 20 white geese have been strutting their stuff around town like they own the place - seen crossing streets, walking on pavements, visiting shops and even learning how to use a zebra British Trust for Ornithology, who are bird experts, says it has never heard of examples of geese visiting for crossing the road, a spokesperson said: "Many birds are highly intelligent, and certainly some, such as crows and gulls are more than capable of observing and learning such behaviour but, personally, I've never seen geese do this." The feathery friends have flapped their way into the heart of many people in March, and a social media fan club, The Geese of March, has over 3,000 some residents are not fans of the flock because they say there's far too much poo around goal is to sell 800 calendars at £5 each and raise £4,000 for animal charities. But Brenda Smith, who lives in the town, said: "They are a pain; there's that much poo everywhere; it is all over the brand new pavements," she another resident, Kerry Howard, is definitely 'Team Goose'. "It makes me laugh… we can't go anywhere because the geese are crossing the road. It just makes you think… slow down."
BBC News
01-08-2025
- BBC News
Geese in March in Cambridgeshire to get their own calendar
A market town that has become well known for a gaggle of gregarious geese is to have a 2026 calendar produced in their honour.A flock of domestic white geese, currently numbering about 20, has been roaming around March in Cambridgeshire for over a geese waddle around the shopping areas and even use zebra crossings sometimes.A Facebook page called the Geese Of March has more than 3,000 members, however some residents are not fans of the flock and say there is too much poo around town. Chrissie Fadipe, 45, is co-ordinating the new calendar which will feature images captured by the public as part of a photographic competition that runs until mid-September."The calendar is going to be funded by sponsorship from local businesses," she target was to sell 800 calendars at £5 each to raise £4,000 for two local animal charities. Kevin McCourt, 72, says he always enjoys seeing the feathery creatures."Whoever's doing the training of them is doing a great job; they always use the zebra crossings," he said. Listen: Why did the goose cross the road?A spokeperson for the British Trust for Ornithology previously said many birds were "highly intelligent" and had worked out that zebra crossings could be safe to use. He added that a couple of the ganders had been named Gary by locals and they could be "a bit aggressive" but that might be because they were protective of the goslings. However, Brenda Smith, 65, said the idea of a calendar was "disgusting"."They are a pain; there's that much poo everywhere; it is all over the brand new pavements that have been pedestrianised," she found the geese "quite intimidating" and they "hiss and honk"."I've always got my bag with me, so I sort of hold my bag up and that deters them a bit," she said. Kerry Howard, 43, says she is not too bothered by any deposits the birds leave."All animals cause a bit of a mess, but what they bring to the town and the pleasure they bring to the children is worth a little bit of mess," she said."It makes me laugh when we're coming back from a school run and it's all very hectic and we're in a rush, but we can't go anywhere because the geese are crossing the road."It just makes you think... slow down."Ms Howard said March had a lovely sense of community and the "geese are just part of that and it's just another nice thing that brings the community together". Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
30-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Geese lose limbs due to discarded lines at fishing hotspots
Geese are being severely injured due to discarded fishing lines being left at angling hotspots. Social, Water Access, Network (SWAN) has issued a warning following repeated incidents where geese are getting caught on the scrap line. In severe cases, this has resulted in limb loss which happened to an Egyptian Goose at Thetford Sluice. An Egyptian Goose lost its foot due to a discarded fishing line (Image: SWAN) Chairman of SWAN, David Smith, said: "The line gets wrapped around their limbs, often held in place by a hook. "If it isn't removed, it cuts off the circulation, causing the limb to die and drop off." READ MORE: Richardson's Boating Holidays wins Tripadvisor award The non-profit organisation strives to protect Norfolk and Suffolk waters and its wildlife. However, catching wild birds in distress can "create risk for both the bird and the person handling". Fishing line caught on the foot of a goose (Image: SWAN) According to SWAN, other Thetford hotspots include the Mill Pond and behind Butten Island. "These locations are both surrounded by trees and anglers - usually teenage boys - often get their lines snagged in the trees," Mr Smith added. "I have personally removed dozens of fishing lures from trees over the years."
New York Times
29-07-2025
- General
- New York Times
Finland's Short, Precious Summers Are Plagued by Goose Poop
Each summer, sun-starved Finns flock to Hietsu Beach, a sandy stretch in Helsinki, to exercise, splash and attempt to tan. Amid a late July, record-breaking heat wave, a very different flock has also been stalking the surf around Finland's capital: barnacle geese — white-faced, black-backed and ever-present. At night, they roost by the water's edge. Come daytime, as people spread out their towels, they waddle away, leaving small mountains of excrement in their tracks. 'There can be a shocking amount of poop,' acknowledged Jukka Lundgren, the manager of Helsinki's public beaches, who has spent 15 of his 18 years on the job trying to keep the sand from looking like a goose litter box. Now, after Sisyphean summers facing down the fowl's feces, he thinks that he just may have found a solution: a wheeled cage with a strong resemblance to an old-fashioned hand lawn mower that is meant to sift the dirtied sand and whisk up only the offending feces. The contraption may be Helsinki's most innovative poop-fighting effort yet. It is being tested this summer on about half the city's 25 public beaches. It was designed in-house by beach staff members, who drew inspiration from a public competition last year meant to crowdsource poop-scooping ideas. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
