Bobby the Goose

Duncan and I went for a walk at our favorite park last night. There is a walking path around the pond and a number of Canadian Geese summer there. The nice weather lately has brought out many people to try their fishing rods in this little pond. So as Duncan and I were walking last night, we came upon an injured goose. He was standing on one leg, the other tucked up under him as it would be when he was flying. (Please consider "he" to be figurative - I have no idea what sex the bird is.) And hanging from this leg was a red and white bobber. As I looked closer it became evident that this Goose had gotten himself tangled in a discarded fishing line - probably one that had been caught in the weeds of the pond and either broke or was cut and left behind, bobber and all (probably hook too, though I didn't see one.) As I looked closer still, I realized that the webbing on this poor creatures foot had been completely shredded, probably in his struggle to disentangle himself. All that was left was his three toes! I knew that I would have a hard time getting anyone to assist, but I decided to try anyway. It was after Vet hours so I called my emergency clinic and asked them if they had any contact information for a wildlife rescue group. They gave me the number for Lakeside Nature Center. I called them and they said they would take him, but that they don't come out to capture. They said I should call Animal Control and see if they would capture and bring him in, but that they probably wouldn't come out until morning. So Duncan and I left him there and went home. When I called Animal Control this morning they of course said that they don't pick up wildlife and that I could call the Missouri Department of Conservation. The folks there said that they wouldn't pick him up either. Evidently they're getting about 3 calls a day right now from different parks with Geese with this same issue. They said that I could try to capture him myself and get him to the Nature Center. Or, I could wait till June when they (the geese) molt and can't fly. Evidently since Geese aren't endangered this isn't a big deal because there are plenty of them out there. Actually, I feel about the same way myself. I really don't like Geese. But this poor guy was hurt!

So I'm at a stand still. I might consider trying to catch him and get it to the Nature Center, but not by myself. Duncan and I are headed back to the park again tonight for a little walk (as long as it doesn't rain.) I'll have to see how he's doing. I don't know what else to do for the poor guy!