Letter to the Editor: Motorists - beware of geese near the Lough

Whilst driving to Abbeyville Veterinary Clinic in Togher with my dog recently, I witnessed three or four geese making their way out onto the road at the Lough Café one after the other.

The Lough is a very well-known and much-loved part of Cork city, is a protected wildlife sanctuary, and provides the city with unique recreational, ecological and community benefits. However, what I witnessed there that day has left me in considerable doubt about ‘human nature’ and drivers! And I would plead with every driver, scooter user, and cyclist to slow down when passing this beautiful place.

On seeing the geese, I stopped, put on my hazard lights so other cars could take note of what was happening, and I signalled to the oncoming car to slow down. It didn’t!

Some of the geese, I think sensing the oncoming danger, made it safely back up onto the footpath, falling over each other as they scampered to safety, but the leader was not so lucky.

My heart sank as I watched the poor little helpless creature go under the car, its wings spread out in an effort perhaps to try and fly away from the fate about to consume it! This driver did not stop or make any effort to help the goose.

When I next saw the goose, it was desperately trying to pull its little body as close as possible to the kerb, and as I thought of how I could help, blood started pouring from one eye socket down onto its pure white feathers and the road. Blood began to form in little pools on the road around it, it was helpless.

I slowly lifted the goose back onto the grass, away and from the road, next to a tree trunk where I thought it would have some shelter at least from the rain and wind. Its little heart pounded in its body.

What struck me was the fact the other geese all stayed close, as though they understood and felt for their leader? I phoned emergency services who mentioned the vets, and suddenly I remembered that that was where I was going!

Two very caring ladies came to see what they could do to help, and one gave us a blanket and phoned Abbeyville, who said to bring the injured goose up and they would check it over and help it in whatever way they could.

When we arrived, a nurse immediately began taking care of the goose. She felt it would be okay but that they would have to observe it for a day or so and treat it accordingly, which was just so consoling to hear after everything. No fees were charged.

Cork Wildlife Rescue rang regularly to hear how the goose was and said that, if necessary, they would take over the care of it until it was well enough to be brought back to The Lough.

Please, please, will everyone who drives past The Lough, or cycles or rides a scooter there, be mindful of the huge number of beautiful swans, geese, ducks, etc, who see it as their home too.

Anne Corboy. College Road, Cork