Just days before her 10th anniversary volunteering with International Bird Rescue, Katrina Plummer celebrated this special milestone in the most meaningful way: watching a Canada Goose she rescued return to the wild.
Two months earlier on the morning of July 12, Katrina was birding in search of White-tailed Kites at Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park in Harbor City, CA, when she came upon an unsettling sight: a goose struggling with fishing line and weights tightly wrapped around its legs and body.
While many people think of pelicans or herons when it comes to fishing gear entanglement, waterfowl such as Canada Geese are also at risk. Foraging along lakes and park shorelines, they can easily become ensnared in discarded line and hooks, putting them in serious danger.
“My initial reaction, I have to help this goose – no question!” Katrina told Bird Rescue. “I didn’t want it to suffer anymore.”
Katrina attempted to approach the bird and throw a towel over its head to catch it, but it was understandably frightened and evasive. It swam off to a small island to avoid her. Despite returning twice that day, she was unable to capture the bird.
Determined to help, Katrina returned the following day with a proper net and teamed up with fellow volunteer Mary Test. After what felt like a wild goose chase, they finally cornered the bird and safely captured it, beginning its journey to care and recovery.
“I cried tears of relief when I was pulling it out of the net because I knew I could finally get it some help,” she said.
Treating Injuries, Restoring Health
Once the goose was brought into care, staff carefully removed multiple fishing hooks and tangled line, revealing wounds on its wings and constriction injuries on its legs. In treatment, the goose required multiple procedures to remove unhealthy tissue from the wound under anesthesia. Each procedure helped prevent infection and promote proper healing.
While recovering, the goose shared its space with several other Canada Geese, many of whom were also victims of fishing line entanglement, alongside a few who had been raised from orphaned chicks. Among the flock, the goose was easy to recognize thanks to its distinctive white markings above its eyes, which gave the appearance of having little eyebrows.
Once fully healed and strong enough to return to the wild, Katrina and Mary released the goose, along with another, at the Colorado Lagoon in Long Beach, CA, on September 4. After a few moments of exploration, it swam off to join other geese, finally free and back in its natural home.
“I teared up, of course,” she said. “As I was filming it going into the water, I told it, ‘You’re free now – keep being a tough goose!’ I was proud of its recovery and so happy for the bird.”
Did this story inspire you to want to get involved? We are currently seeking volunteers for a variety of opportunities that will make a difference for waterbirds in need. Learn more information about our program, and submit an application on our volunteer page.