Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Sad

Last summer when I looked out the kitchen window this is what I saw.


We enjoyed watching a pair of Canada geese raise their family. When fall came they didn't bother flying south and have been around all winter. I admired their bravery since there has been plenty of snow and cold weather. They didn't seem to mind though since they had each other.

This morning that changed. After hearing a gun really close to the house we looked out the window just in time to see one of the geese tumble out of the sky. The hunter stood there triumphantly while his dog went to pick it up and carry it to him.

If he had only asked for permission to hunt we could have told him that we liked having a pair of geese and looked forward to seeing them raise another family this summer. That won't be possible now, and how do you comfort a bereaved goose? 

27 comments:

  1. that is terrible. but there are those who want what they want when they want it.
    what an amazing view you look out upon. hope more geese will find a home with you eventually.

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  2. Oh no, that IS sad! And horrible that someone would hunt on your property, without asking! :(

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  3. That is so sad! Why wouldn't someone ask permission first before hunting on your property??
    I'm so sorry. :(

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  4. Mary Ann, how close to your home was this hunter? There are laws that restrict hunting near homes and there are definite distances outlined in hunting laws. I would be very concerned if someone was that close.

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  5. Your view is beautiful! I'm sorry for yor loss.Now about that undisciplined, trespassing, cowardly killing fiend (hunters are a cut above this cur) - Grrr, but happily there will be justice someday.

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  6. Oh that is so sad. I heard gun shots Sunday quite a bit. It's a somewhat expected sound in our area as I have a huge forest behind my home, and it IS hunted. It always makes me sad to hear the shots because I just love my little forest creatures so much. I agree, hunting on or that close to your property seems a little too close for comfort.

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  7. Hunting on your property without permission is deadly dangerous for children at play. When I lived at the edge of a woods, I used to put fluorescent orange hats and vests on my children when they went outside to play.

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  8. Awww thats sad, but ur yard's beautiful!

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  9. What a small frame of life that story represents.

    I wonder how many geese I've destroyed, not knowing how precious are they to another - geese that come in the form of dreams & prayers?

    Comforts & condolences, for truly the loss of such treasured creatures deserves such.

    Kathleen

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  10. That is very sad. The view from your window is very beautiful!

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  11. I would have cried. seems so unfair doesn't it? Thank God that you have the heart to notice and appreciate them while they were there with you. Blessings, Joanne

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  12. If it is out of season the hunter has broken the law. He should not have been on your property without permission so that is another law that he broke. I think you should report this to the police.

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  13. That is awful!!! I grieve for that goose's mate. I have heard how they mate for life and grieve over each other as the case may be.

    I am sure you and your family are grieving as well and my sympathy to all.

    I agree with Beth I think he should be reported since he didn't have your permission to hunt on your property.

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  14. I am so sorry. You are so right. He should not be hunting on private land. I love my wild life~ I so understand your heart ache.

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  15. They are beautiful as a pair and fun to watch, but as the years pass you might find yourself wishing for a hunter to come by and thin out the flock. That said, I would be sad too and no one should be hunting on private land without permission.

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  16. This is so sad. If you have "posted" signs up, then he was trespassing and deserves to be arrested. I am so sorry but hopefully the goslings will stick around and pair up. I believe the season runs through March 5th. Better check your signs. I'll check mine, too... permission only.

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  17. Apparently, when my neighbor's children were younger and outside playing, hunters shot a deer and chased it into their yard, shooting! They got in deep trouble! Now, for the most part, only familiar people hunt nearby and they know we have little ones. I'm not against hunting or guns by any means, but I am against irresponsible people.

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  18. How sad. Geese mate for life! I am so sorry that this had to happen to you...

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  19. I know you will miss your geese. The hunter, no doubt had no thought
    of others feelings. Maybe another
    will come for you to watch.

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  20. I can't believe someone can just fire a gun so close to peoples' dwellings! You have kids!...and adults too of course...but...gosh! That's unbelievable. And surely it was on your property???

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  21. Thats sad. My husband and I once had a rescue goose who had lost his mate and had broken wing as well. He lived his surviving years (2) in our barnyard with chickens and goats. He became quite attached to us and even enjoyed being petted. He rode around the barnyard on the back of a pygmy goat. I say all this because I know, God has a plan. Even for a widowed goose.

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  22. That's the saddest thing. I don't understand hunter's who have no respect for other people's property and the law. My mother has a hunter who comes on her land, but he always asks for permission and never hunts out of season.
    That poor sweet goose :(

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  23. That is sad! :( You have a lovely view from your window...

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  24. Awe, how sad! My Sister and I got to raise a pair of ducks once. When they became adults we took them to a friend's farm who had a pond. That was sad enough to say goodbye, but to see it fall from the sky is much much worse! Not sure how to comfort a goose. Maybe throw some bread out to it on occasion?

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  25. Sad, sad, sad. We have geese in our yard, and I noticed a couple of weeks ago that we had an odd number. So that means something happened to the mate to one of them.
    I know what you mean about how to comfort a bereaved goose....?
    BTW, thanks for visiting my blog! Looking forward to reading more of yours.

    Dianna
    www.thesedaysofmine.

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  26. I really understand how you felt about the goose. Here in the South, they spend time with us. A young pair stayed by a retaining pond near the office where I work. I can't imagine what prompted them to stay there as my town has two beautiful rivers. Maybe they liked the solitude of the woods around the pond. One morning on my way in, I saw that one of them had been hit by a car. It broke my heart. All I could think of was the grieving mate. I work in a surgical office & so many times see couples who have been married for many years have to face the inevitable loss of their lifelong loves, just like the grieving mates our our geese. Thanks for sharing the touching story.

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  27. Oh no that is so sad since geese mate for life.
    Your blog is a very interesting read and you lead a very interesting life.

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Thank you so much for taking time to comment. I love hearing your thoughts.