City staff to place bird deterrent after goose hurts 3-year-old in Carrie Blake Park

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, May 29, 2019

Local first responders report a 3-year-old child was attacked by a goose last Wednesday in Carrie Blake Community Park.

Medical officials with both Clallam County Fire District 3 and Sequim Police Department responded after the call at 4:26 p.m.

on May 22 to the bathrooms by the Water Reclamation Pond in the north part of the park.

Staff Sgt. Sean Madison said the child had been attacked in the head but medics arrived quickly and treated the child on scene.

Sequim operations manager Ty Brown said this time of year is problematic because the birds are nesting in the park and are territorial.

“We’re waiting for a dry day, probably Wednesday (May 29), and we’ll mow and put down geese deterrent,” Brown said.

“It smells like grape bubble gum and the geese will get the taste in their mouth and it’ll take them a few days to realize this isn’t a good feeding ground,” he said.

Brown said placing the non-toxic deterrent usually goes down around mid-July for Lavender Weekend as more people frequent the park.

City staff also add fake dogs/coyotes around the pond but that only deters the birds for about a month, he said.

“This year we’ll do it all a little bit earlier, but that’s OK,” Brown said. “If people are going to get closer then the ducks and geese are on guard. Our hope is people will give wildlife the space they need.”

In previous years city crews have placed the bird deterrent in fields and human high-traffic areas to prevent droppings by play structures and the Albert Haller Playfields.

Staff Sgt. Sean Madison with Sequim Police said in the past animal control has had to capture farm-raised geese that neglectful owners let go in the park.

Visitors must learn to coexist with wild birds safely, Madison said.

City Manager Charlie Bush agrees with the sentiment.

“From the city’s perspective we have a beautiful community with a lot of wildlife and we need to be aware of the real dangers of them,” Bush said.

If you have a lost or found an animal, or a concern for an animals well-being from potential neglect/abuse, call Sequim Police Department at 360-683-7227 or the Department of Community Development at 360-683-4908.

For more about animal control in Sequim, visit www.sequimwa.gov/273/Animal-Control.

Reach Matthew Nash at mnash@sequimgazette.com.