Apparently, Lubbock has entered its Bird Flu, But Make It Vague era. While sick geese are literally dropping out of the sky at local playa lakes, the City of Lubbock Public Health Department has kept public communication to a minimum. Aside from a Facebook post on January 13, official updates have been about as visible as a goose that isn’t twitching on the ground.
Meanwhile, the people actually paying attention, South Plains Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, are doing the heavy lifting. In a detailed post on January 26, they warned residents that these “grounded” geese are not cold, tired, or just having a rough Monday. They’re sick. As in: neurological symptoms, discharge, inability to walk, and falling out of the sky sick. You know, the kind of thing public health departments usually like to talk about before it spreads.
And yet, despite clear warnings, people have been scooping these birds up bare-handed, taking them home, letting kids play with them, and even transporting them in their laps. Because nothing says “West Texas problem-solving” like turning a potential avian flu exposure into a family activity. The rehab center reports more than 175 live geese admitted and over 150 found dead—numbers that suggest this is not a one-off nature hiccup.
To be clear, South Plains Wildlife Rehab is begging people not to attempt rescues and to call Lubbock Animal Services instead. Their concern isn’t just for the birds—it’s for pets, kids, elderly residents, and anyone who thought, “Surely this goose just needs a blanket.” But without consistent messaging from the city, residents are left guessing, which is how you end up with sick wildlife in your living room.
So if geese falling from the sky with neurological symptoms doesn’t merit regular public updates, what exactly does—or are we waiting for one to knock on City Hall’s door?