Arrow Goose.JPG

A Canada goose with an arrow protruding from its breast was first spotted by Bay City residents in April. The goose was left to roam free with the arrow still in place until late June when representatives from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources were able to safely remove the arrow. The goose was then released back into the wilderness.

(Courtesy | Michigan Department of Natural Resources)

BAY CITY, MI

— Bay City's most easily recognized goose is no longer so easy to spot.

Michigan Department of Natural Resources representatives have removed an arrow from the breast of a Canada goose, more than two months after

.

Residents spotted the goose wandering in downtown Bay City, according to DNR, and alerted the agency regarding concerns for its safety.

Sandy Miner, a wildlife rehabilitator, found the goose in mid-April at a nest it made near the Bay City Boys and Girls Club, 300 Lafayette. DNR officials spotted it soon after and witnessed the female goose flying away without straining, they reported.

Once witnessing the condition of the bird, officials at first decided it was unnecessary to remove the arrow, since the goose appeared to function properly.

According to a press release from the DNR, the goose came into contact with DNR officials once again at the end of June when biologists were banding geese in Bay City to track migration habits and other information.

"It really, actually, was a lucky chance that we were able to get that goose in the pen when we were rounding up geese to band them," said Michigan DNR Wildlife Outreach Technician Holly Vaughn.

"That particular goose wasn't targeted. It just happened to be with the rest of the geese when our biologists were banding."

The biologists examined the goose, deciding that it was safe to remove the arrow.

"The guys picked it up and took a look at it and noticed that the arrow was able to move freely within the bird. The wound from the arrow itself had pretty much healed up around the arrow," said Vaughn. "They found that taking the arrow out wouldn't do any further damage, so they decided to go ahead and remove the arrow."

The biologist removed the arrow, banded the bird and let it go within approximately a half hour, releasing it back into the Saginaw River.

Now the bird famous for trotting around with an arrow in its breast is impossible to decipher among the thousand of other geese in the area.

"It just went on its merry way. It appears to be completely unharmed by the whole process," Vaughn said.