An Egyptian goose seen wandering Anaheim Hills with an arrow lodged through its neck that eluded repeated rescue attempts before it was finally wrangled this week has died.

After the goose was captured Wednesday, veterinarians immediately began surgery to remove the arrow, according to Orange County Animal Care.

But the brown-and-tan-feathered bird was unable to recover from the surgery and died, animal care officials said.

The injured goose was spotted last week and quickly became a local legend.


It was seen wandering through neighborhoods and appeared, for the most part, to be doing well.

Animal control officials tried to catch the bird, but it evaded them and continued to roam freely through the city.

But on Wednesday, an employee at a car wash caught the bird in the area, which is not far from the Santa Ana River, according to KTLA-TV.

Authorities believe the Egyptian goose, a species native to Africa, was living in the river.


It is unclear who shot the bird, but officials believe it was intentionally harmed.

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