Sunriver golf course worker cited for shooting goslings

A maintenance worker at Sunriver’s Meadow Golf Course has been cited for animal abuse and other charges, accused of firing a pellet rifle at a family of geese, wounding one gosling and killing another, police said Tuesday.

Officers responded shortly before 7 p.m. Sunday to the reported game violation on River Road. They determined a man working at the Meadows Golf Course had shot two juvenile goslings, said Police Chief Marc Mills.

Tom Pinckard, a neighbor to the course, witnessed the incident unfolding.

“I was sitting in this rocking chair with my binoculars looking at the geese, on the water. I saw a man pull out a rifle with a telescopic sight on it and begin shooting the birds. I was horrified,” Pinckard said.

Pinckard said he rushed across the field and confronted the man who was shooting.

Officers brought one injured gosling to the High Desert Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation facility in Bend, where it’s recovering from injuries, Mills said. The other was found dead at the location and was turned over to police as evidence.

After an investigation, police cited Joseph N. Seevers, 39, of Bend, in lieu of custody on two counts each of animal abuse and the unlawful taking of a game animal, Mills said. His single-shot air rifle was confiscated for evidence, the chief added.

The surviving gosling is being kept at center is kept in an oxygen chamber. Veterinary technician Jeannette Bonomo said they’re trying to keep him quiet and limit his activity. The bird has a broken femur.

Bonomo said etting geese or wildlife off properties is understandable, but there’s always a right way to do it instead shooting.

“Given that there are humane ways to get the geese away, there’s not excuse for it. It’s flat out cruel,” Bonomo said.

“It was later determined that Sunriver Resort management had no knowledge of Seevers’ actions,” Mills said, adding that Sunriver police worked in cooperation with Oregon State Police game troopers on the incident.

At last sighting, the two adult geese were attending to the remaining goslings, Mills said.

“It is hoped that the injured gosling will be returned to its family after recovering from its injuries,” he added.

Sunriver Resort Area Managing Director Tom O’Shea issued the following statement:

“On Sunday, April 17th, our management team was informed that an employee fired an air rifle at geese on the Meadows golf course, which is currently closed to the public. This staff member acted on their own accord, without prior authorization or approval from our supervisory team.

“Sunriver Resort does not condone this type of activity on property. Sunriver Resort and the employee are fully cooperating with local authorities. The resort is taking this matter extremely seriously and is investigating the situation internally to determine the next course of action,” O’Shea added.

Pinckard said the family of geese had nested on his porch for weeks. His wife, Suzie, said, there were a total of six baby goslings.

“It was very emotional, because these little geese have been on our deck. My wife had held them in her hands,” Pinckard said.