By Dick Gordon
Former Hamilton Lakes & Parks, Inc. board member, Janet Inmon, watched two families of geese feed in a neighbors’ yard for days in early August. She noticed that one parent goose had a problem with its left leg/webbed foot. Upon closer inspection, she noticed that a fish hook was imbedded in its leg, leaving it largely disabled.
Janet contacted Piedmont Wildlife Rehab, Inc. and explained to Fran Martti, their waterfowl expert, that an injured goose was in a yard at the corner of Henderson and Leonard at Meade Drive. Fran and her son, Ian, eventually determined that the goose needed veterinary attention and Ian captured the goose with a gentle bear hug. They took it to the Animal Ark Veterinary Hospital on Brassfield Road. There was no charge for the removal of the hook, but there was a small charge for the antibiotics the goose required. Piedmont Wildlife Rehab paid for the antibiotics. The goose is now fully ambulatory and back with its “gaggle”.
I would like to commend Animal Ark, Janet, Fran and Ian for helping a creature in need. Further, it would be very thoughtful if the folks who fish around Lake Hamilton would clean up their spent and tangled lines rather than just cutting the line. Over the years I have untangled geese, ducks and ducklings, and a Great Blue Heron. They were all afraid, but they seemed to know that I was trying to help them.
You can do your part by please cleaning up all your fishing gear when you’re finished for the day.