Oddball Goose Spotted At Lake Oconee

A report about a goose with what looked at first like four “legs” being spotted at Lake Oconee’s Wallace Dam certainly raised some eyebrows. When at least three Georgia Power employees saw the oddball goose, and finally got a decent photo, it was time to ask GON about it.

After speaking with WRD, this goose likely doesn’t have additional legs—although extra appendages on critters is a real thing— but likely has a condition called “Angel wing.”

“Matt Deamon saw it first, on June 28,” said Donald Jarrett, who has worked at the Wallace Dam for 18 years. “Then (Georgia Power employee) Bobby Knight and I saw it several days later. I’ve seen it twice now.”

Donald said his sightings came on a private Georgia Power road that crosses the dam.

“The first time I saw it, it was really blowing my mind,” said Donald. “When I saw it a few days later, it was hanging out with seven or eight other geese on the dam. When I got up close in my truck, they all walked down the rip-rap toward the lake and inside the barrels there at the dam. It didn’t have any problem walking down the rip-rap. The extra legs, or whatever they are, were just flapping along as it walked on.”

GON can’t recall ever reporting on a bird with additional legs, although years ago a story was published about a five-legged deer.

“I’ve seen one bird with more than two spurs, but never a bird like this. This is a new one on me.”