Home › Forums › Open Discussion › Dogs after Geese at Lincoln Park
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August 6, 2014 at 4:15 am #612247
CTNativeParticipantToday while walking at Lincoln park I witnessed four people walking their dogs. They took two of the dogs off of their leashes and instructed them to “Get the birds” The geese that live at Lincoln park were the target!!!! I told them to call the dogs off… Their reply was that they were just being dogs chasing birds and to back off! (I am using PG language for WSB!) A few other kind people stopped who were also concerned. Called 911… Gave a description of the bad people etc… So sad! Just sharing Thanks WS
August 6, 2014 at 4:32 am #811781
FionaEnzoParticipantWhat is wrong with people? What jerks. I have also witnessed people with young dogs on leash going directly up to the geese. Whaa? Making friends, curious about dog’s reaction — cannot fathom the motivation — idiotic. And parents who encourage their 2 and 3 yr olds to run up and chase the geese. One time I finally said, “they do bite to protect themselves.” Maybe we need a crowdfunder for a sign indicating these two geese are residents and protected. How can people be so ignorant.
August 6, 2014 at 7:41 am #811782
JeannieParticipantI’d go for a crowdfunder site. Only problem: To put up a sign, we’d probably need permission from the Parks Department. Anyone have any ideas on logistics and laws?
August 6, 2014 at 2:01 pm #811783August 6, 2014 at 2:23 pm #811784
miwsParticipantCTNative, thanks for taking action.
This is the worst interaction, yet, that I’ve ever heard regarding the LP Geese and irresponsible dog owners. Usually it’s “simply” the dogs being off leash and running after them without the owner caring, or barely noticing. Or, at worst, the scenario that Fiona mentions.
But to sic the dog on the geese, is totally reprehensible. I think most dogs know the command “Go get ’em!”, or similar.
Mike
August 6, 2014 at 3:03 pm #811785
wakefloodParticipantJust makes you shake your head sometimes.
Was walking there a week or so back and noticed one of the geese appeared to be preening back in the grass while the other one looked to be standing watch. Not really unusual but something a little different than the positions I usually see them in.
Kept walking and a bit further up the path there was a substantial spread of feathers on the path. Like maybe 30 or so. And some of them were a bit mangled looking.
Wonder if one of the “playing” dogs got their prey for a minute?
I’m in favor of anything that might work. I’ve seen signage be ignored so often that I’m somewhat dubious, especially when it comes to people described above. They frankly don’t give a hoot. But maybe enough folks seeing a sign would help over time…
Like I said, I just shake my head.
August 7, 2014 at 2:35 am #811786
Talaki34ParticipantThese are not Canadian Geese.
August 7, 2014 at 3:51 am #811787
FionaEnzoParticipantThese geese “appear” domesticated. They’ve become a fixture at the Park (yes, if it were a flock, they’d fall into the nuisance category in that small area, but it’s just the two and they’re gentle spirits) and even had a couple of duck groupies for awhile. Several elderly folks seem to have a routine feeding them (white bread – gack! :) But the intention is one of care and connection.
I can check with Parks. They might need names and special outfits to get protection!
August 7, 2014 at 8:06 am #811788
CTNativeParticipantThanks WSB!
August 7, 2014 at 9:29 pm #811789
JeannieParticipantFionaEnzo, thank you for checking with Parks. Please let us know what they say. Remember, I spoke with Animal Control a few months ago about off-leash dogs, a never-ending problem. But that’s a whole other thread! (though definitely related)
Believe me, if I saw idiots siccing their dogs on the geese, I’d raise hell! The geese relocated themselves from an area near the ferry terminal when the big construction started, and now they have to cope with all kinds of threats in busy Lincoln Park.
August 8, 2014 at 3:12 am #811790
FionaEnzoParticipantI called today. Decaro is the wildlife contact but she hasn’t called back yet. Will post as soon as I hear.
August 8, 2014 at 6:09 am #811791
JeannieParticipantThanks, FionaEnzo. In the meantime, I’ll do my part to be a bit of a “Goose Sitter” and keep an eye on them next time I’m in Lincoln Park.
August 11, 2014 at 5:56 pm #811792
FionaEnzoParticipantI spoke with Ms. Decaro at Parks this morning. She was very helpful – asked questions as to where the geese nest and if we’d ever seen any offspring? I had no info. She said that perhaps they do then nest on the ground, which of course makes them more vulnerable. She said there is no true protection available for them and most likely no signage permitted about the geese per se. She did, however, say that there is growing momentum for signage to encourage a culture of all dogs remaining on-leash to protect all wildlife in Lincoln Park and other designated natural areas. She mentioned a West Seattle contact and I’ll post that info as soon as I have more to report.
August 11, 2014 at 6:00 pm #811793
miwsParticipantAugust 11, 2014 at 7:30 pm #811794
2 Much WhineParticipantI am not saying it is right but an aspect of having certain kinds of dogs that many people fail to understand is that some folks use them for hunting. This involves getting dogs to flush out birds and I know people that use every chance they get to train their dogs to do their job. Not everyone is able to distinguish a well-loved local “landmark” of sorts from a Thanksgiving dinner. Not everyone sees geese, seals, ducks, etc. as an animal to be protected – many people think of them as a nuisance. Geese and ducks poop everywhere, seals eat salmon. Allowing my dog (or kids) to chase animals is not my cup of tea but it is a different perspective than I am hearing here. I think a lot of folks in other parts of the country would laugh at us because they can’t understand our perspective.
August 11, 2014 at 7:43 pm #811795
KBearParticipant2 Much Whine, your arguments do not pertain to a city park where it is illegal to run your dogs off leash and harass the wildlife.
August 11, 2014 at 8:11 pm #811796
velo_nutParticipantquite possibly the dumbest thing 2 Much Whine has ever said in the history of this site.
August 11, 2014 at 8:36 pm #811797
JeannieParticipantThank you, velo_nut! I know it isn’t nice to criticize other commenters, but I had a similar WTF reaction to 2 Much Whine’s remarks.
August 11, 2014 at 10:10 pm #811798
blblParticipantSo, velo_nut, I guess it’s ok to break the rules on this site regarding personal attacks on people, just as long as you don’t break a park rule regarding a pooping bird. Got it.
August 12, 2014 at 12:11 am #811799
anonymeParticipantActually, I’ve lived in many other parts of the country where ducks and geese were an inherent and well-loved part of many or most city parks, and harassment by dogs would not be tolerated. What folks in other cities might well not understand is why we in Seattle are so tolerant of the law-breakers who are too special, too entitled, too free n’ easy to adhere to leash laws.
August 12, 2014 at 1:34 am #811800
velo_nutParticipantblbl- nothing I wrote violated site rules. It wasn’t an attack on someone, just what they said.
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I hate to feed a troll such as yourself but I will clarify the relationship these two geese have with Lincoln Park. They are not random fowl descending upon a man made path to poop on your hot dogs and ruin your family outing… These are long time residents of LP who have been victim to many human pet shenanigans. They LIVE there. And for folks to go out of there way to make their pet attack them? Disgusting.
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Give me your best shot on why this is a proper practice and why the dogs owners should be applauded. C’mon… Bring it.
August 12, 2014 at 8:34 am #811801
HMC RichParticipantThose geese are wonderful. They put up with too much of our kids’ and dog owners idiocy. But, just because someone disagrees with someone else’s statement does not make them a troll.
I say thumbs up to the people who stood up for the geese and I hope a seagull dive bombs those idiots. Most people won’t speak out. Good for you.
August 13, 2014 at 2:47 am #811802
FionaEnzoParticipantThanks Velo Nut and HMC Rich. I think these geese are unique. They may need a school or classroom to identify their uniqueness by naming them and educating other children (and adults) about appropriate behavior and interaction with wildlife (animals who cannot speak but are sentient beings which can connect us directly with our humanity).
August 13, 2014 at 4:01 am #811803
2 Much WhineParticipantWow, just wow. I guess I was wrong. You’re right. There are no hunters that train their dogs and there are no people that let their dogs chase birds and would not think twice about encouraging them to do so. AND how dare I be so presumptious to assume that a person that doesn’t live in West Seattle might actually visit one of our parks and be unaware that we have a special bond with a local bird that from all outward appearances is wild (or are they wearing collars and name tags now?). What the hell was I thinking? Please note that at no point in my post did I defend or condone their actions. I am however aware that not everybody gives a rip about your precious geese (as evidenced by the fact that this is not the first and only time that dogs have been observed being encouraged to chase them).
August 13, 2014 at 2:51 pm #811804
VBDParticipant2 Much Whine, why do you insist on digging your hole of ignorance even deeper?
These geese do not, at all, appear to be wild. They are clearly feral domesticated geese. They are pure white, and, like typical domestic fowl, are a bit over weight and don’t fly. They are also generally tolerant to people being close by.
If they were wild geese, like common Canada Geese, they could at least run to the water or fly off. These geese are, to use a sadly appropriate cliche, sitting ducks.
So the half-wits who send their dogs after them aren’t giving their pets much of a challenge.
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