OREM, Utah – Someone with a pellet gun has been shooting and killing dozens of ducks and geese at the Golden Pond Duck Sanctuary at the Sleepy Ridge development in Orem, and a $3,000 reward has been offered for information leading to those responsible. Some of the fowl are protected wildlife and shooting them is against the law.
“We worked as closely as we can with the division and report everything we can find out so they can hopefully do something with the perpetrators,” said Jim Fowers, a volunteer with Great Basin Wildlife Rehabilitation.
Residents in the area rescued more injured birds Sunday and are hoping to find the person responsible.
Two large geese were recently taken to a veterinarian clinic for treatment. One had been shot by a pellet gun six times. Wildlife experts say the gun pellets can cause other issues, including lead poisoning if the ducks ingest them.
“We treat them for lead poisoning,” Fowers said. “There is medication, [but] we do have a high mortality for that because normally we don’t get them in until after it’s too late.”
Residents spend a lot of time at this pond and have been keeping a watchful eye, but so far have not been able to locate the shooter. Sleepy Ridge Resident Catherine Whittaker said it’s disappointing anyone would want to shoot the ducks because they are supposed to be protected at the sanctuary. She says she’s hoping to find the person responsible and put an end to it.
“We’re just begging for someone to tell us who it is and then just take appropriate measures to get it stopped,” Whittaker said.
A reward of $2,500 was offered in connection with the case, and that reward amount has now been increased to $3,000. The funds have been put forth by Humane Society of Utah, Edge Homes and through community fundraising. Anyone with information about the animal killings is asked to contact the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. Click here for contact information.
Residents have also started a GoFundMe page to raise funds to protect the birds, click here for details.
