In July, we shared the story of a Great Blue Heron who was injured after becoming tangled in fishing line in Green Lake.
Unfortunately, although that bird was rescued by Sarvey Wildlife Center, its legs were so severely damaged that it had to be euthanized.
Happily, the Sarvey Wildlife Center rescues other birds from Green Lake that do reach full recovery. The story of one such rescue was featured in the organization’s fall 2011 newsletter:
The Rescue of a Greenlake Goose
Republished with permission from the Sarvey Wildlife Center
As animal rescuers know, a rescue can be as simple as walking up to the animal and dropping a box over it. Sometimes, however, things get more interesting…
As Will Miller and Kestrel SkyHawk relate their version of this rescue, you will see how water rescues can take “interesting” to a whole new level.
The Greenlake Goose stands in a carrier in the back of our rescue ambulance. Note the length of the fishing line dangling out of her mouth and onto the carrier floor.
Will’s Recollection
It was a typical Wednesday afternoon at the Center. I had just returned from my daily run and had reloaded the ambulance for the next day when the call came in.
There was a Canada Goose down at Greenlake with fishing line hanging out of its beak.
This was distressing news because we had just pulled a Great Blue Heron out of the same lake with fishing line tangled around its leg and normally this means there is a fishing hook stuck somewhere further down the throat. It was getting late and water rescues are impossible in the dark. I let the caller know that we would be unable to do anything that night would be at the lake first thing in the morning.
I left early the next day for Greenlake. Traffic was light and I made it there by 8am. I parked the van and scouted the area looking for the Goose. You’d think that a Goose with fishing line hanging out its mouth would stand out like a sore thumb but you’d be wrong.
From the parking lot I could see there were three gaggles of Geese, all on the shore or in the water—and there was lots of water.
I headed north along the lake to each group and walked slowly around them to try to spot the Goose. The third group had the entangled Goose. She was standing with four other Geese just off shore. Now the fun began.
I’ve been wet while doing my job a number of times before and nothing really ruins my day more than wet boots—and wet jeans aren’t much fun either. With this in mind, I headed back to the ambulance to get a net and to change into my wetsuit. I climbed in the back, stripped down to my shorts and started to tug on my suit when I heard someone shrieking in the parking lot. I started to panic a little myself at this thinking someone was in trouble. I only had the suit about halfway on and struggled to get it on faster so I could see what was going on.
I looked out the back window and realized it was me she was shrieking about.
I really didn’t understand what the big deal was at the time but looking back on it she probably saw a guy who looked like he was naked in the back of a white panel van in the middle of a parking lot full of children.
Oops…
Having geared up, I headed back down the shore to get this Goose. I approached slowly so I didn’t startle the birds and drive them any deeper into the water.
About 20 feet from the group I climbed into the water and slowly made my way toward the Goose. I was hoping that I could push it up out of the water and onto the shore but luck wasn’t with me.
I got within about five feet of the bird before the whole flock panicked and all moved into the water. I chased after them as quickly as I could but it wasn’t easy. They quickly outdistanced me without much effort.
Knowing I had other calls that needed my attention and realizing this rescue would be better with two people, I called our Education Director Kestrel and made plans to meet the next morning at the park.
From one day to the next, our Center never knows what wildlife situation we will see next. Taken to a vet for Xrays (for a possible hook), it took a steady hand to release this Goose from what must have been an extremely painful dilemma and potentially fatal situation.
Kestrel’s Recollection
The call comes in: “Hey Kestrel, this is Will (Sarvey’s dashing and daring ambulance driver)—do you still have your kayak?”
Uh oh, wonder what kind of wild animal rescue adventure he has in mind…
“Yes, do you need it?” I ask.
“Yes, and I need you too,” he replies.
Oh boy, just like the good old days. I was once like Will, doing the dangerous and exciting stuff on a regular basis. With a spirited excitement welling up, I ask: “What have you got?”
“It’s a Goose with fishing line wrapped around its face, wing and neck.”
Oh yeah, I remember a number of those rescue situations, always difficult because the birds opt to go into the water to escape your efforts to catch them every time. Very frustrating when you are trying to help them.
I get to the location a little early. A few people are walking and jogging around the lake.
I see a flock of 60 or more Canada Geese spread out on the grass near the water’s edge.
I try to single out the one with the fishing line. While surveying the flock, Will arrives in the wildlife ambulance. He comes over and just as we spot the bird with the huge wad of carelessly discarded fishing line entwined around its mouth and on its body, the entire flock decides to head for the water.
Will, dressed in a kilt he occasionally wears, goes into the water to capture it, to no avail.
We look at each other. Understood.
Will gets out of the water and gets the net from the ambulance; I grab the kayak from my vehicle. What a team, we both know exactly what to do. Good thing too because the radios were not charged.
Will runs over, bouncing kilt and all, to where the Geese are headed. I put in and kayak over to the same spot, “herding” the Geese all the while.
Great timing!
We locate the Goose again and we go in for the catch.
Will throws off his kilt in case he has to go into the water again. I keep the bird from going back into the water. I guess I am scarier than Will because it runs out of the water and Will nets it without much trouble.
The whole episode takes less than 20 minutes!
Will walks back with net, Goose and kilt. We get back to the ambulance at the same time.
I see a couple of concerned ladies. I tell them, “It’s OK, he’s with Sarvey Wildlife”; they thought he was going to take it home to eat it!
Back at the Center, the Goose’s intake exam revealed she was in good health, other than the fishing line issue.
Wrapped tightly around her tongue, it dangled out of her mouth and hung almost to the ground.
X-rays revealed no hook and the line was successfully removed from the Goose’s tongue.
Luckily, the tongue itself was not damaged.
After some recovery time in our Waterfowl Flight, this lucky Goose is again free.
Looking elegant and regal, this is our last photo of the Greenlake Goose before her release. She now flies the skies free from entanglements with fishing line and people.
Photos by Tammie Rohr.
Thanks for the tip, Jennifer Townsend.
