Goose relocation effort successful

SANDPOINT — The city’s joint venture with the North Idaho Animal Hospital to remove domesticated geese from City Beach was a success, according to NIAH officials.

After several information-gathering trips, NIAH employees were able to safely lure all but two of the nearly 50 geese into a large trap and load them into a horse trailer, Dr. Robert Pierce said in an e-mail.

The geese were adopted by the owners of two farms located out of town and will live out the rest of their days in comfort, Pierce said.

The original plan called for the use of a number of handmade boxes to transport the geese, which 14-year old Alex Hon had built in an effort to ascend to the rank of Eagle Scout. The boxes turned out to be unnecessary, but both Pierce and Parks and Recreation Director Kim Woodruff praised Hon’s work on the project.

Woodruff also said he was pleased with Pierce’s professionalism and care for the animals during the operation.

Woodruff said NIAH employees are on task to catch the two geese that remain at large.