#Long Island goose rescued after being found strapped with explosives

Authorities were goosed to find a bird strapped with explosives in a Long Island park last week, the apparent product of someone intending to harm the animal, according to local animal rights groups.

The Canada goose was found on Friday at Silver Lake Park in Baldwin, Long Island, with a high powered firecracker duct-taped to its chest.

The bird was rescued by John DiLeonardo, along with other members of PETA and LION — Long Islanders Orchestrating for Nature. Both organizations are offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person who committed the fowl crime.

“The explosive appeared to have been lit but was soaked in water, presumably when the cowardly perpetrator let go and the bird wisely escaped into the water,” LION posted on its Facebook page.

The bird was injured by the duct tape used to fasten the explosive to its body and had to be taken to a local vet. It was released back into the wild a few hours after its rescue.

But DiLeonardo and LION say they are still concerned about the person or persons who did this.

“The FBI, medical professionals, the police department have all well documented the link between animal abuse and human violence, so it’s only a matter of time before this person escalates and harms another animal or a person,” he told PIX 11.