To all who expressed interest in Henry David, the goose…
I talked with the Lindsay Wildlife Hospital a little while ago and was told that Henry David, the goose, didn’t make it. They said that he was very emaciated when he arrived, indicating that he had been ill for some time. The woman explained that wild geese will mask their weakness for a long time, because to show weakness would make them appear vulnerable. She said that they had been caring for him …. he was in a warm incubator, but that he died during the night.
Thank you to the people at the Lindsay Wildlife Hospital and Animal Rescue Services for their generous efforts to help.~
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As with feelings…
happiness and sadness
courage and fear
hope and grief
….so it also is with life…
arise….abide…dissolve
may we cherish each other dearly, throughout the moments we are “here”
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Added the next morning as I ponder options and choices:
As I think about the situation… the goose really wasn’t “safe” from predators…I’m sure geese feel that people are predators, which of course, we have the potential to be. And as I think more about it, he probably experienced tremendous stress and fear in the process of people trying to help: me trying to get him away from the pool area, being wrapped in a blanket, transported in a truck, being treated inside a rescue facility etc… it’s a bit of a moral/ethical dilemma as I think about it… leave injured wildlife alone doing as well as they can? or take them for help? I guess if they live and can be released, the capture is potentially positive. If not, there’s been a lot of fear and stress for the animal before it dies. Another of life’s questions/choices that may not have a clear answer.
Pocket Perspectives 
“..may we cherish each other dearly, throughout the moments we are “here”
That’s what it’s all about, I believe.
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yes…. I believe that too..
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OOoh, at least he died like you said cared for. Good also to know little bits about their behavior. We have geese in our local park and one is quite aggressive, nipped at my s/o’s foot, and chases us when he sees us, and I admit I run away. LOL.
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yes, at least he had a chance of recovery.
I’m usually afraid of geese, because they can be so aggressive…I tend to be timid…but this one was different, I guess because he was sick.
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Marie, (I just added this to the end of the post too) …as I think about it… he really wasn’t “safe” from predators…I’m sure geese feel that people are predators, which of course, we have the potential to be. And as I think about it, he probably experienced tremendous stress and fear in the process of people trying to help: wrapped in a blanket, transported in a truck, being inside in a rescue facility etc… it’s a bit of a moral/ethical dilemma as I think about it… leave injured wildlife alone doing as well as they can or take them for help. I guess if they live and can be released, the capture is potentially positive. If not, there’s been a lot of fear and stress for the animal before it dies. Another of life’s questions/choices that may not have a clear answer.
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Kathy ~
I agree with you that sometimes wildlife is best left to its own devices, BUT this goose hung around long enough that he may have wanted “intervention” from humans.
Either way, Henry David is at peace.
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thank you so much, Nancy….I’ve been troubled for the past few hours, as I’ve been thinking about this choice…isn’t it something how both perspectives can have “validity”… I hope he did want “intervention”…I really hope so… And I find it even more confusing with/when helping family members/people… when to help and when to accept what seems to be. There is the balancing of “wisdom” and “compassion”… when to try to help and when to let things be…a continuing question for me.
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yes….thank you
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If you had not done anything, Henry David would still have died. I don’t believe in coincidences, the goose ended up by the pool for a reason, that is to meet you. He had to feel the compassion coming from you and the human caretakers. As Nancy says, at least he is at peace.
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So sorry to hear about that – just a wonderful moment of compassion and connection.
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Yes, thank you, Don, for your words of compassion…
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