Canada Goose #18-2730 update

Canada Goose #18-2730 has been doing well during the past week. The veterinary team discontinued daily monitoring of the goose’s heart rate after the improved blood work results; the team now gives the goose an overall health check once a week. The bird is eating well and swimming in the Center’s aviary.

Because Canada Geese are one of the species hunted in Virginia as game birds, Center veterinarians need to take into consideration the “drug withdrawal” times of all the medications the goose was given during its hospitalization. Different medications take different lengths of time to leave an animal’s system; some might be cleared within days, while others take months. One particular medication has a rather lengthy withdrawal period, which means that the goose will need to stay at the Center through hunting season, which ends in February.

In the meantime, Canada Goose #18-2730 will be an older buddy and role model to younger goose #18-2813.