Fowl Play: Chicken, Goose Slow Down Bay Area Freeway Commutes

First there were reports of chickens on the Bay Bridge near the toll plaza Wednesday morning just as the early morning commute kicked off.

Then, about 7:30 a.m., a goose was seen meandering on U.S. Highway 101 at Alum Rock Avenue in San Jose. Cars slowed and swerved to avoid hitting the fowl on the freeway.

A California Highway Patrol officer on a motorcycle rode behind the goose, urging the bird to waddle back to the side of the road and into some bushes.

Initial reports surfaced that the goose was a duck, but Twitter users were quick to correct that misidentification.

The goose complied and no injuries were reported as the bird flew off to safety.

As for the chicken, or chickens, at least one appeared to have finally crossed the road to get to the other side, but it did delay commuter Jeff Chu, who snapped a photo of one bird while sitting in nightmarish traffic. CHP Officer Sean Wilkenfeld said there were reports of possibly four chickens near the toll plaza, but only one was captured by two officers about 10 a.m.

The chickens prompted the CHP to issue this warning: "Please DO NOT try and grab on the freeway. Let #CHP find out why the chickens crossed the road, it's not worth getting hit."

They also prompted this Twitter account: @BridgeChicken. Its first tweet: a rooster emoji.

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