Crime & Safety

UPDATE: Goose Wounded by Arrow Recovering, Soon to Return to Napa Valley Wilds

Teen who admitted accidental shooting to enter diversion program, rather than courts.,

UPDATE: 4:20 p.m. Wednesday, April 10, 2013.

A Greylag goose wounded by an arrow accidentally shot by a 14-year-old Napa boy is recovering and may be returning to its habitat soon, rescue officials said.

"The goose is doing well and has 'graduated' to a water-based aviary in preparation for his/her placement/return to Napa Wildlife," said Michelle Bellizzi of the International Bird Rescue center in Fairfield.

Find out what's happening in Napa Valleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

ORIGINAL STORY: 9:20 a.m. Wednesday, April 10, 2013.

A 14-year-old Napa boy who admitted he accidentally shot a Greylag goose in the neck with a rubber-tipped arrow last month will be placed in a youth diversion program, rather than the juvenile court system, Napa County authorities said Wednesday.

Find out what's happening in Napa Valleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"The case was discussed with a prosecutor from the Napa County District Attorney’s Office, and it was agreed that (it) should be handled by the Napa Police Department’s Youth Services Bureau, instead of court,"  said Napa County Sheriff's Capt. Tracey Stuart.

"We also discussed this with the Wildlife Rescue Center of Napa County and they agreed that diversion to the Youth Services Bureau was the best resolution to this incident," Stuart said.  "It is likely that the young man will be devoting many hours to community service, helping and learning about animals."

According to Stuart, the wounded goose was first discovered on March 27 when Napa County Animal Services received information that the Wildlife Rescue Center of Napa County was trying to catch a wounded Greylag goose on the Napa River.

The goose had an arrow in its neck, she said.

On March 28, the Wildlife Rescue Center was able to capture the goose and it was taken to International Bird Rescue Center in Cordelia.

"The goose is recovering and the arrow was turned over to Animal Services," Stuart said.

On April 4, the incident made the news in published reports. A $5,000 reward for information on who shot the bird was offered by the Humane Society of the United States and the Humane Society Wildlife Land Trust.

The next day, Stuart said, Animal Services received a call from a family who had read the story and believed that their 14-year-old son was responsible for the injured goose.

On April 7, Animal Services Sgt. Ortiz interviewed the 14-year-old boy, Stuart said.

"The boy said that he had been at a home along the Napa River that had a lot of geese in the yard," she said.

"He had a bow and arrow with him and he meant to shoot a rubber-tipped practice arrow into the ground near the geese to shoo them away," she added. "Instead, the arrow struck one of the geese in the neck."

Stuart said the boy told Ortiz that he tried to catch the goose, but it got away.

"The young man was visibly upset, very remorseful about hurting the goose and has no history of similar behavior," Stuart said.

Officials at the International Bird Rescue in Cordelia were not immediately available Wednesday to comment on the condition of the goose.

Napa Patch is now Napa Valley Patch! Follow us on Twitter | Like us on Facebook | Sign up for the daily email with links to the latest news | Got something to say? Start a blog and share your views with the valley.

 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.