Trooper sent on a wild goose chase on I-5 in Shoreline

Updated 5-16-2013 9:53am

Mother Goose supervises as goslings leave the transport cage
Photo by Kevin Mack, PAWS

From the Washington State Patrol

Once again, warm weather brought baby geese back to southbound Interstate 5 in the Shoreline area. This time the geese were relocated to a safe location with the help of PAWS.

Wednesday morning around 9:30am, a relatively common sight returned to southbound Interstate 5 in the area of 145th Street. Two adult and seven baby geese were crossing the roadway in rush hour commuter traffic causing traffic to screech to a halt. Trooper J. Lauer responded to the area to help the geese off the roadway and noticed one adult goose had a visible injury to its wing. Trooper Lauer said the geese were less than happy to have his help and “began hissing at me”.

Headed for the water
Photo by Kevin Mack, PAWS

The geese were safely cleared from the roadway, but the injury to the goose and reality that the family would not stay out of the roadway for long had Trooper Lauer making some calls for assistance. He contacted PAWS, located in Lynnwood, and quickly received a positive response. Making a trip to rescue geese is not a common occurrence for PAWS but with the safety concern for the animals and resulting traffic issues they quickly responded to the area. Troopers and Department of Transportation vehicles slowed traffic on the roadway for the seconds needed to safely capture the geese for treatment and relocation.

Seattle area troopers will tell you that the goose family transport has been going on for years in this area. During the early morning commute baby geese and their parents will travel down southbound Interstate 5 on the shoulder, often traveling into the roadway. This goose “commute” is a danger to the geese and drivers in the area who are trying to avoid hitting the birds, and each other.

PAWS relocated mother and babies safely away from I-5
Photo by Kevin Mack, PAWS

Sadly, the injured adult goose was not able to be saved due to its injuries but the babies and mother were relocated to a safe waterway away from the dangers of Interstate 5 by PAWS.

PAWS is a champion for animals—rehabilitating injured and orphaned wildlife, sheltering and adopting homeless cats and dogs, and educating people to make a better world for animals and people.