COOPER CITY, Fla. – A quiet canal-side neighborhood turned into the site of a grisly scene after a group of teens, reportedly riding an all-terrain vehicle, intentionally ran over a flock of Egyptian geese while they slept on a berm.
The aftermath left residents horrified and authorities scrambling to track down the culprits.
The incident occurred on a berm adjacent to the Countryside Shops, a known resting spot for the geese during this time of year. Eyewitnesses Brian and Serena Schaffer described the harrowing event as a deliberate massacre.
“We were sitting at our dining room table when we heard the commotion,” Brian Schaffer said. Upon looking outside, the couple saw the ATV barreling through the flock. “It was like a total massacre. They went up and down, zig-zagging, running the geese over on purpose.”
Brian, visibly shaken, described the grisly scene: “I already have seven in my truck that I picked up.
“There’s another one, injured and in pain. They’re all dead or dying.”
The Schaffers quickly dialed 911 and rushed outside in a desperate attempt to intervene. “I tried to shine a light on them and yelled, ‘What are you doing?’” Serena recounted. “They just laughed, screamed profanities at me, and kept going.”
The suspects, described as four to five teens, possibly in their early 20s, left behind a trail of devastation. Dozens of geese were killed or injured. Some were seen hobbling with broken legs, while others were lifeless across the berm.
Brian Schaffer managed to capture one goose with two broken legs, which he later took to a local wildlife rescue organization. “We gently captured him and brought him to duck heaven,” he said.
Detectives from the Broward Sheriff’s Office are leading the investigation, with deputies on ATVs combing the shoreline for evidence. Officials are reviewing security footage from nearby businesses to identify the perpetrators.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has confirmed that Egyptian geese, though nonnative to Florida, are protected under state anti-cruelty laws. The Schaffers are also offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.
Residents are demanding justice for the senseless act. Serena Schaffer expressed her heartbreak: “These kids were laughing like it was a game. It’s sickening.”
The Broward Sheriff’s Office urges anyone with information to come forward. This disturbing act of cruelty has left the Cooper City community grieving for the innocent geese whose lives were cut short.
For tips or leads, contact Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS.