KINGSPORT, Tenn. (AP) - The abundance of geese that frequent the banks of the Holston River can easily blend into the background of the Model City.
But over the past four months, one Canada goose has elicited gasps, pity and multiple calls to authorities as it walks the streets - and flies the skies - with an arrow through its neck.
Considering the circumstances, officials say it seems to be relatively fine, and at this point interfering could do more harm than good.
During their commute to work at Holston Valley Medical Center, co-workers Theresa Gilliam and Sandra Donihe have seen the goose multiple times. On one occasion, Donihe snapped photos with her phone.
"I was like, 'Poor pitiful goose,' " said Donihe of spotting the animal on Sept. 10. "It was standing out there with all the others, doing its thing."
Gilliam's first encounter came a few weeks later near Clinchfield Street.
"There he was crossing the road with all of the little geese," Gilliam told the Times-News. "I thought, 'God bless his little heart, someone needs to help this little goose. Surely somebody will help this little goose!' "
Previously, the animal was spotted in August at the skate park on West Center Street. Jamie Austin, who works across the road at Center Auto Machine, told the Times-News he spoke to police.
"They said it had been like that for two months," said Austin. "They said (the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency) was going to just let nature take its course."
But nature's assumed course has apparently taken a detour. A check of Kingsport Police Department records shows reports on the animal all the way back to July - but it was spotted again two weeks ago.
Public works employees Lewis Bausell and Marty Baker told the Times-News that the bird - with the arrow shaft still through its neck - was near West Industry Drive and Netherland Inn Road. And despite the extra appendage, they say it was fitting in fine with the flock.
"It took off flying - and not only that, it was the lead goose," Bausell said. "It took off and they all followed him."
Baker added: "When he took off you could hear his wing tips hitting the metal shaft - tink, tink, tink."
According to KPD records, an individual called police to the same area on July 27. An officer responded to find the animal was not bleeding and didn't appear distressed.
"It pecked at the ground and appeared to be eating as it walked away," reads the report, noting that the TWRA was notified of the discovery.
On Aug. 10, a second police report was filed on the goose, again in the area of Netherland Inn and West Industry Drive. In that incident, the TWRA and Sullivan County/Kingsport/Bluff City Animal Control were alerted.
SBK Animal Control Officer Steve Ward says his agency is not permitted to handle Canada geese, as they are protected under federal law.
TWRA Officer Bryan Kegley added that wildlife officials have indeed visited Kingsport to check on the goose, but it fled their efforts to get close. He said the arrow obviously didn't pierce a major bone or artery, with scar tissue having sealed the wounds it did suffer.
"If an animal like that is doing well, not getting real thin or unhealthy, we let them go," said Kegley. "It's the same as with a bear or deer."
Along Lovedale Drive on a recent Friday morning, a random survey of residents revealed sightings of the bird are fairly common. Trevor Nichols pulled out his cellphone and scrolled through his photos. He stopped on a snapshot of the goose behind his apartment with the arrow piercing its neck.
"Who would do that?" he asked.
Bays Mountain Park ranger and naturalist Krystal Haney says Canada geese are year-round residents of Kingsport that do not migrate. That means the bird was likely shot by someone in our area.
While the bird's injury was incurred several months ago, police still welcome any potential information on the circumstances and shooter. KPD Public Information Officer Tom Patton said tips could be submitted to either the Kingsport Police Department or TWRA.
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Information from: Kingsport Times-News, http://www.timesnews.net