Spat over; officials pass duck

Thu., Aug. 25, 2005

Associated Press

AUBURN, Wash. – Gooey the duck is back with Diane Erdmann after a week as a ward of the state, but no longer may he be treated entirely as a pet.

Erdmann said she rescued the mallard and nursed him back to health after he was attacked by a crow when he was about a day old.

About 11 weeks later, on Aug. 12, state fish and wildlife agents seized the duck in a videotaped confrontation at her workplace, Northwest Territorial Mint.

Erdmann subsequently filed a police complaint saying she was shoved by a wildlife officer and her boss, Ross B. Hansen, accused the wildlife officers of trespassing.

Under an agreement signed by both sides, “Settlement Agreement Regarding the Seizure of a Mallard Duck,” Erdmann got Gooey back after promising to provide “access to green vegetation including grasses and clovers” and to stop clipping the duck’s wings.

She also agreed to a requirement that Gooey be weaned from human interaction so he can be returned to the wild.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forum series -- which helps to boost local journalism -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax-deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.