A Milton man is facing animal cruelty charges after prosecutors say he attacked a nesting Canada goose.

MILTON, Wash. — A Milton man is facing animal cruelty charges after prosecutors say he attacked a nesting Canada goose, an incident drawing strong community response to protect the bird and its eggs.

Police arrested 49-year-old Monte Laukala on April 9 after responding to reports of a disturbance near a goose nest outside a Key Bank along state Route 161. According to court documents, witnesses told officers Laukala used a metal sign to strike the goose multiple times while it remained on the nest guarding its eggs.