We (and the ducks!) shouldn’t have to worry about loose dogs when we’re walking in the park.
Exactly! There’s been at least one occasion, in recent years, of one of the “Lincoln Park Geese” being attacked by an off-leash dog.
This is really one of those scenarios that I wish I large and could be intimidating looking (but still a nice guy ;-) ).
I wouldn’t need, or really want to make any threats, just point out to in a mostly polite and very firm manner, that the law (and common courtesy/sense for the safety and enjoyment of other canine and human Park visitors, and Park wildlife) dictates their dog should be on a leash, and under their complete control on that leash, at all times.
Mike
Mike, there’s little doubt that some animals are capable of mourning, so no straitjacket required! I know that geese mate for life. I think the Lincoln Park geese are female, but they are close companions, perhaps even siblings. I couldn’t tell if the goose was sad, though. I know I’m sad about this!
Just out of curiosity, autumna and Sonoma; did the lone goose appear to be behaving oddly, like grieving?
Now, before someone sends the folks out that would fit me with one of these:
It’s a known fact that some animals, other than humans, grieve at the loss of one of their own; elephants, parrots, dogs, to name a few.
Don’t know, without an internet search, if geese fall into that category, but if the single goose seems “sad”, that tells me something tragic may have indeed happened.
Mike
I was at Lincoln Park yesterday around 4:30 PM, and I saw only one goose. Remember, these birds were displaced from their safer home near the ferry dock. They were escaping the construction mess. Sadly, their new locale is rife with unleashed dogs and clueless humans. Still, it’s heartening that some of our West Seattle neighbors do care about this duo (or perhaps no longer a duo).
And they say a goose is “silly”…..??!
I chewed a guy out for harassing the geese a few weeks ago. He was chasing one around a picnic table, with his arms out. He told me he wasn’t really trying to catch it, he was just having “fun”. I said the goose thought it was real enough, knock it off!!
I don’t know what I’d do if I saw someone’s dog going after one…..
I was down at the park yesterday and only saw one of the geese. Does anyone know if the other goose is ok? I have never seen them apart from one another and am worried.
I like the idea of a sign – whom would we contact? It could be something as simple as Harassing Wildlife is Against the Law, or something more Seattle in tone – Please Don’t Harass Birds and Wildlife. That, and another reminder sign about off-leash dogs. Normally, I am not a fan of “sign, sign, everywhere a sign,” but a few exceptions might be advisable in this case.
I didnt even think of that! Can you imagine the uproar that would cause!? The geese are typically in the same area, how about a sign? I know most of this etiquette goes without saying, but sometimes having it in black and white is a good reminder.
Off-leash dogs attacking the geese are bad enough, but Sonoma raises a good point about kids aggressively harassing the geese. Some parents seem to think this is funny, a poor and dangerous lesson, IMO. Not only is it mean to the geese, but geese are large and sometimes cantankerous creatures capable of delivering a painful bite. If this were to occur, the same parents would probably demand that this “dangerous” animal be euthanized. What happened to teaching kindness?
If you see a dog attacking the geese, track down the idiot owner of the dog. The owner is breaking the law, and is an a**h*** at that. SPEAK UP! And if you see someone with an unleashed dog, say something. We’ve been through this discussion before, and I don’t want to initiate a long thread, but, as MRS.SR put it, we’re tired of the geese being attacked.
And, by the way, I’m not too thrilled with kids harassing the geese. I tell them to stop, in no uncertain terms. I ask then how they’d like it if some big person chased and scared them.
And, believe me, I do like dogs and kids.
So tired of these poor geese getting attacked! Lincoln Park is more theirs than it is ours. PUT A LEASH ON YOUR DOG.
These geese were attacked by an off leash dog a few months ago. Sad to hear it happened again.
I have heard this pair of geese have been there awhile. About a month ago the one goose had a limp.
Can people that go to the beach at Lincoln Park keep an eye on the white geese pair that hangs out on the southeast end of the park at the beach. Saw one of the geese get attacked by dog today. Didn’t see any blood and it ate when offered food, but does have noticable limp. Other goose is staying close to protect its mate. Just want to make sure it gets better and doesn’t need more veterinary attention.
I actually saw them at 10:30am today between the swing set and the path. They were “curled up” with their bills nestled into their feathers behind their heads (180 degree twist for their necks). I saw them yesterday in the same position but on the other aside of the path by the beach. It looked like a posture they would use to bar against cold, only it wasn’t cold either day.
Thank you, JanS and Hammerhead. I do remember when the dog attacked the geese. I will keep an eye out for pretty snow-white duo and hope to see them alive and well.
I actually had suggested it(reloing), but got poo pooed on even suggesting it.
So the last I heard they were still there.
HH
Something in the back of my head remembers that perhaps they were relocated? Maybe someone will weigh in on this?
This is from oct. 2012: https://westseattleblog.com/2012/10/lincoln-park-resident-goose-attacked-by-dog-readers-report the geese were OK after that…
I haven’t seen the two white geese of Lincoln Park in quite awhile. I am concerned that a coyote or off-leash dog may have attacked them. Has anyone seen them recently?
They added delight to my walks.
What about six geese-a-laying? or maybe seven swans-a-swimming?
Actually, if you have a partridge-in-a-pear tree, I’d consider adopting.
But I am not so sure…is it ok to sell (versus rescue/adopt) live animals on the forum? Or no? I don’t recall seeing live animals or poultry/birds for sale here before.
oh, heaven forbid we take the geese out of harms way because, because…well, think of the children, they would miss them, or the other human beings who would have less than stellar walks because they couldn’t see the geese. We are so effing selfish sometimes, and makes me wonder who you really care about…the birds or yourselves.
HH was only trying to help…and comparing it to a zipline above was simply idiotic. Off leash selfish humans will always exist. Get over yourselves!
â–º We know your intentions are good, babe.
â–º No, your idea wasn’t a bad one; you were just trying to help.
â–º Education is still worth it. You educated me after all. So keep it up! And always remember:
 
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Yes it is a good intention, but at the same time with all the other threads about stupid “humans” not obeying the law. YES, wakeflood that was all I was trying to do. Seattle animal control will not do anything with the birds, unless one gets killed or hurt badly.
There will never be enough law enforcement. Thank budget cuts for that. The “humans” that do not obey the law, well education is not going to work either.
AGAIN all I was trying to do is protect the birds. I know they are not hurting anyone, as for the kids, well if one is killed that would be just as horrible to tell them. Hopefully one does not get killed. Who cares if they have been there for as long as they have, for the most part, I personally think they are in danger.
I don’t consider my idea half-brained as it was purely from the heart about caring for their safety.
FCAT/HH
Good grief! Talk about “good intentions.” This thread started simply with some great photos of the two geese. And, quite simply, Lincoln Park is their home. Several generations have lived there. It’s where they’re comfortable. They seem perfectly content – despite the dogs and other dangers. Why on earth would we even consider uprooting them “for their own good”? As others have noted, the core issue is off-leash dogs, not feral/wild/whatever geese. Moving the geese is about as hare-brained an idea as installing a GoApe zipline.
