Washington police are looking into the deaths of seven geese in Washington over the weekend.

At around 3 a.m. Sunday morning, some residents in the homes surrounding Veterans Park in Washington were woken by the distressed honking of geese. Though one witness said he saw two people deliberately going after the Canada geese that congregate in the area, police believe the incident more a case of hit and run than a malicious crime.

According to Washington Police and Fire Services Director Stacy Drakeford, the fact that feathers were strewn approximately 50 yards down East Third Street, in addition to the state of dead geese, indicated they were run over by a vehicle.

“The guys (who investigated) said it doesn’t appear like somebody went out and beat them with a stick,” Drakeford said. “They could have been mean and just plowed over them, but they didn’t beat them with a stick.”

The Canada geese have been a source of contention in recent months, as their year-round presence in the park is responsible for traffic issues on East Third Street, as well as an abundance of goose excrement in the park that had city officials concerned about a potential public health hazard. Washington City Council researched options to remove the geese earlier this year, but ultimately decided to take no action.

Last year, the city did establish a fine for those who feed the geese and ducks in the park, in an attempt to cut down on their numbers.

As for the traffic issue, officials encourage anyone driving in the area to be cautious, looking out for both the birds and other vehicles that have slowed or stopped to avoid hitting them.

“It’s a problem we’re dealing with and we’ll continue to deal with it,” Drakeford said.