Someone ran over, decapitated and removed the heads of a gaggle of geese and goslings in Idaho over the July 4 weekend.
The Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) was alerted to the massacre by someone who called their Citizens Against Poaching hotline, according to LiveScience. Someone ran over “multiple” adult Canada geese and goslings at three locations on the same road in Bear Lake County, decapitating many of the birds, and reportedly removing their heads from the location, the outlet continued.
“This is such an unusual case for this agency,” IDFG regional communications manager Jennifer Jackson told LiveScience. She noted that it was a “horrible display of truly unusual human behavior” that falls outside the norm of what the department usually has to deal with, the outlet reported.
Geese, goslings run over and decapitated in southeast Idaho during 4th of July weekend. IDFG is asking for the public’s help in identifying a suspect or gathering additional information about the killings.😢🤬”Sick, abusive, individuals, and why!” pic.twitter.com/Wf0DjQqBZV
— Sumner (@renmusb1) July 12, 2022
The public have contacted the department and shared their “disdain and disgust” via social media, Jackson told the outlet. While hunting Canada geese is legal in Idaho, Jackson said “no connections between this crime and hunting should be made,” according to LiveScience.
“There are rules and regulations that must be followed regarding seasons, hunt areas, required hunting licenses and permits, allowed methods of take, limits, requirements for meat harvest,” Jackson continued in her statement to LiveScience. (RELATED: Soccer Star Kurt Zouma Sentenced After Abusing Cats)
Research into psychology and criminology suggests that cruelty to animals is symptomatic of deep mental disturbance, according to Science Direct. Surveys of psychiatric patients who repeatedly tortured dogs and cats during their youth were found to have high levels of aggression toward people as well, the study notes.
Bad-A** Cat Gets Shot By Arrow, Believed To Have Taken Arrow Out By Himself https://t.co/70LdAw2b0j
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) April 22, 2022
Anyone with information that might be helpful to the IDFG’s ongoing investigation is encouraged to contact Senior Conservation Officer Kolby White at 208-204-3921 or call Idaho’s Citizens Against Poaching Hotline at 1-800-632-5999. “Callers can remain anonymous and rewards are available to those with information that leads to an arrest,” the IDFG statement notes.