Goose Survives Arrow Through Head

WEYMOUTH (CBS) – A Canada Goose that was found shot in the head with an arrow last week is recovering.

Crews from the Animal Rescue League of Boston managed to capture the injured goose from a pond in Plymouth.

"This animal was brought to us as an emergency case," says Dr. Rob Adamski of the New England Wildlife Center. "Somebody had shot it with an arrow. So the arrow was still actually embedded in the animal's head. It is a very lucky bird."

The doctors say they've never seen a case like this one, and that's good news for a goose that seems to be living a charmed life.

"My first reaction was, wow, wow," says Dr. Greg Mertz, also of the NE Wildlife Center.

He knew he had to do something.

"I took hold of the arrow and just to see how firmly entrenched it was and it actually spun in my hand. So I just gently took it and pulled it right out," says Mertz.

The goose is being treated at the New England Wildlife Center in Weymouth and is expected to survive. Treatment is expected to last for the next several weeks, but staff members say the goose is active, eating, and starting to look healthier. The hope is to return it to the area in Plymouth where it was found.

"For having an arrow shot through the side of his head it is actually doing remarkably well," says Dr. Adamski.

The really amazing thing is the arrow didn't hit anything vital.

"It didn't hit any nerves. It didn't seem to hit any major blood vessels. And it was an amazingly lucky duck, or goose," says Dr. Mertz.

The biggest problem right now is a mild infection, but the doctors are optimistic.

"If all goes well he gets released. He goes out in the wild again," says Mertz.

While the incident is being investigated, no word on who shot the goose.

Online: New England Wildlife Center

Animal Rescue League of Boston

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Laurie Kirby reports