Screengrab from Dallas Lansdown/Facebook

By Chris Brown

Goose is now loose

Goose saved from fishing line, chilly waters of South Saskatchewan River

Dec 10, 2020 | 1:03 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The goose got loose but only after a rescue from two members of the public and treatment and care from APARC.

Dallas Lansdown and Torrey Nihau were driving through Strathcona Island Park on Tuesday when they spotted a goose in the water and ice near the boat launch.

Lansdown says at first they thought the goose was just sunbathing but realized as they got closer that it was stuck.

When they saw the goose’s head going underwater they dove right in to get him, she said.

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“When he got out of the water the goose was so tangled up in fishing wire. So we tried untangling it and then we realized that it was wrapped around the neck and it was cutting through,” Lansdown recounted. “So we started taking turns chewing the fishing wire and as soon as we were able to get him away from the ice we got him in the car where I had sewing scissors to start working on the rest.”

The pair then brought him to APARC for more help. The staff there also dove right in.

“Once we got all his fishing line off we found out where his wounds were and made sure those were taken care of the best we can,” said Kaylyn Genio, APARC general manager. “Now we’re not set up for geese or for birds really, we’re more just domestic pets. But because this one really needed help it was something we needed to do.”

They called Fish and Wildlife for assistance but when no one was available, APARC staff made the goose as comfortable as they could.

They gave the goose food and water and built a nest in the office.

“We used something called hot rocks and it is something the public has provided us with in the past for kittens so it was really cool that we have them on hand from then,” Genio said. “We were able to warm him up in his little office nest using those hot rocks and then we hand-fed him a little bit, we gave him a little bit of water and within a few hours he was starting to roam around the facility.”

After a few hours at APARC to warm up and get his strength back, staff took the goose back to where he was found and released him.

Lansdown wishes people would pick up their garbage so this sort of rescue isn’t needed.

Both she and Nihau were ecstatic to learn later in the day that the goose had already been released.

“I was happy to save the little bird,” said Nihau. “I would have done it for any animal or any person. The ice didn’t really mean anything to me. I just saw an animal that needed help and I dived in there.”