Cop intentionally runs over protected geese

A viral video captured an Arkansas State Police trooper running over and killing two goslings on Interstate 57. Chris Weatherly(Goose Killer):

The incident occurred near Cabot, Arkansas, when a family of Canada geese blocked highway traffic.

The event has sparked significant public outrage, while state police leadership has strongly defended the trooper's actions as a necessary safety measure to prevent human fatalities.

Incident OverviewThe Location: The incident took place on I-57 near the 15-mile marker between Cabot and Jacksonville. Concrete barriers on both sides of the roadway made it difficult for the birds to escape.

The Action: A passing motorist's video showed the trooper accelerating his patrol vehicle toward the geese, striking a baby goose.

Witnesses and dashcam footage later confirmed that a second gosling was also killed.

The Timeline: Official logs show the trooper spent 26 minutes attempting to coax the geese off the interstate before the collision occurred.

Police Defense and ResponseArkansas State Police Director Colonel Mike Hagar issued a detailed public defense of the trooper's actions, calling it a "lose-lose scenario.

"Human Safety First: Col. Hagar noted that motorists were unexpectedly stopping on a high-speed interstate, creating an extreme risk of a multi-car pileup. He cited a past 2017 incident where sudden braking for an animal caused a crash that killed three people.

Exhausted Options: The trooper requested assistance from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. However, game wardens were unavailable to respond to the scene immediately.

Orders to Shoot: Col. Hagar revealed the trooper had actually been instructed to shoot and dispatch the birds upon arrival to quickly clear the hazard, but chose to spend nearly half an hour trying to save them first.

Public Backlash & Legal ProtectionsThe viral footage prompted massive backlash across social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram.

Many commenters condemned the act as cruel and unnecessary.

Activists have pointed out that Canada geese are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, which prohibits intentionally killing the birds without a permit.

State officials stated that while hunting out of season is a crime, this event was a clear accidental result of an emergency traffic clearance operation rather than intentional hunting.