Geese still have not flown south

By Ken Johnston
Editor

For the past month or so several Canadian Geese have remained behind in Rainy River while the rest of their relatives have flown south for the winter.
Two weeks ago the Record had a photo of one of them with fishing line tangled around its feet.
Apparently there is also another one with line around its wings. Geese are known to mate for life and to stick with injured partners until then die.
It is believed that this is why the small group of geese has been huddling near one last spot of open water just in front of the Town of Rainy River.
Dana Kaliska and his partner Janet Race called the Ministry of Natural Resources where they were told that the geese, who are primarily vegetarians are staying near the water for protection, not for food.
With that in mind they probably had not eaten much for weeks.
"We were told that they are likely too weak to fly," said Kaliska last week.
They purchased some feed and began feeding them in hopes that once they are strong enough they will depart for the south.
Kaliska noted that it appeared that someone else had been feeding them bread. However, Race said that they were told not to feed them bread as it expands in their gullet and makes them think they are full and they could starve to death.
They hope that if possible the geese will begin to trust them enough to let them remove the fishing line and perhaps they will all fly south soon.
The open water was slowly closing over the past week as temperatures stayed below freezing day and night.