UPC Helps Rescue 52 Geese and 4 Ducks in Woodland, California
An Animal Rights Article from All-Creatures.org

FROM

United Poultry Concerns (UPC)
August 2014

The dried-up lakebed...

A UPC alert earlier this week alerted activists that dozens of flightless domestic geese and several ducks were suffering from dehydration and fear as the pond they have called home since the 1980s had dried up, due to California’s severe drought. The birds were wandering the parched ground suffering from the lack of water. Each night they were threatened by predators with no water to escape into. Some had already died as a result of their situation.

They needed our help without delay, so on Tuesday morning, August 5, United Poultry Concerns, Carolina Waterfowl Rescue, Hen Harbor and Direct Action Everywhere gathered in Woodland to mount a rescue. Thanks to UPC members, the city of Woodland received many calls and e-mails this week, urging them to relocate the birds. City officials, including the Director of Public Works and the City Manager, sprang into action Tuesday morning, aiding animal rescuers with all-terrain vehicles and a crew of city workers on hand to help.

Herding the geese...

UPC's Hope Bohanec lending a hand...

Unsure of their future...

When we arrived at the site, the birds stood in the middle of a dry lakebed. We set up soft fencing in a large V shape that narrowed to a closed pen just big enough for the flock. We then started slowly circling the outer rim of the dry pond carefully herding them into the fencing. It went smoothly, with little stress to the birds. We then carefully transferred them into the crates which we loaded onto the all-terrain vehicles. We are grateful to the city of Woodland for providing the vehicles and assisting the rescue, as it was rough terrain and hauling the crates by hand would have been extremely difficult.

The crated birds were then loaded into vans for their ride to Bakersfield, California, where a large lake awaits them. They will first be assessed for any medical needs and isolated for observation and treatment if necessary, but soon they will be bathing, playing and enjoying a large body of water–a waterfowl’s greatest joy!

In the van, on the way to their new very wet homes...

Thank You to our energetic members who made calls and sent e-mails. Your pleas made a difference! We are so delighted that the geese and ducks will soon be swimming safe in their new home. We thank Carolina Waterfowl Rescue, Direct Action Everywhere, Hen Harbor, Harvest Home Animal Sanctuary and all the volunteers who donated the crates and supplies that helped make this rescue successful.

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