Goose Finds Home At

Bird Sanctuary In Litchfield

By Tanjua Damon

The China White Goose that was found on Hammertown Road December 8 has been taken to the Livingston Ripley Waterfowl Sanctuary in Litchfield to recuperate.

Linda Jones and her two daughters, Autumn and Laurel, made the trip with the domesticated goose to Litchfield on Friday so that the goose could be taken care of properly. The goose also had a slight injury and needed some rehabilitation.

Once Mrs Jones arrived at the Livingston Ripley Waterfowl Sanctuary on Friday, it was determined that the goose that she and her daughters found in a snow bank was a female China White. The honking of the goose determines what sex it is.

“What a place. It was very impressive,” Mrs Jones said. “They were very, very accommodating. I’m glad she is treatable.”

Mike Bean, director of the Livingston Ripley Waterfowl Sanctuary, believes the goose may have walked away from its home, or possibly fell off a truck. He believes something may have hit the goose, causing it to go into the snow bank on Hammertown Road where Mrs Jones found it.

“The goose is doing much better than when it arrived,” Mr Bean said. “She’s in the rehabilitation room with two other black swans. She hasn’t been intermingled with other birds.”

Mr Bean believes the goose belongs to someone. She is doing better and is putting more weight on her injured leg. Mr Bean said nothing looks broken.

China White geese eat things that you would find in the wild, according to Mr Bean. They can eat seeds, grain, lettuce, and grasses. They graze like cattle.

The Livingston Ripley Waterfowl Sanctuary will help the goose rehabilitate, according to Mr Bean. Although the Sanctuary is more for wild waterfowl, Mr Bean does have friends who can take the domestic goose, if it is decided she will not stay at the sanctuary.

“When this bird completely recovers, it will be happier with its own kind,” Mr Bean said.

The Livingston Ripley Waterfowl Sanctuary has its own Web site at http://www.lrws.org.