Canadian Goose

About a week ago I did some over night ER shifts at the hospital. The staff joked that I appear to be a magnet for all the busy late nights and unusual cases. Anyways, I saw a few wildlife cases those 3 nights. One was a screech owl that had been hit by a car. An owl with vertigo is quite and sight. Another case was a young Canadian goose that had been shot with an arrow. Fortunately, the arrow had pierced through his breast and exited out the other side, not piercing his thoracic cavity or abdomen. He had been caught by an area wildlife rehabilitator and brought to the hospital to see if we could help him. Radiographs were taken, the patient was anesthetized and the arrow removed. He recovered uneventfully and was sent off the next morning to recuperate with the rehabiltator. I was happy to help him, but more than a little disappointed in my fellow human.

I find this type of gross disregard for a living creature to be incredibly upsetting.It really doesn't matter if it is a field mouse, a turtle or a deer. Frankly it is all the same regardless of their size or perceived value. And this is not about whether hunting is appropriate or not, I can assure you the person who did this was no hunter since a capable hunter would never leave an animal to suffer and die a miserable death.

We have so much natural space around us in these little towns. We are fortunate. Hopefully, people can think twice before inflicting senseless harm on another living creature since their actions hurt all of us.