Following the rescue of a Canada goose this week, the head of New Canaan Animal Control is urging residents who fish to make sure they’re not leaving fishing line around ponds.
Chris Santopietro of Geese Relief, who on April 25, 2023 helped rescue a Canada goose that had become entangled in fishing line 10 days prior. Photo courtesy of New Canaan Animal Control
With invaluable help from Chris Santopietro of Geese Relief, New Canaan Control Officer Allyson Halm said a goose that had become entangled in a line during the April 15 fishing derby at Mill Pond—and was unable to fly as a result—finally was secured on Tuesday on a nearby property.
Officials were able to free the goose of the fishing line and the bird flew away on its own (see video above), fortunately uninjured, Halm said.
“We know this is a very well-attended and important event but we do want to emplhasize that fishing line is one of the serious killers for our widlife that reside around ponds,” Halm said.
The Canada goose behind the medical offices on East Avenue, with the fishing line and lure still attached to its left wing. Photo courtesy of New Canaan Animal Control
She added, “The officials that organize the event are conscientious and they were aware of the goose that got hooked at the derby. They tried to free it but the line snapped.”
Halm said that over the following 10 days, she received several calls from concerned residents about the goose with a fishing lure visibly stuck to it. Though the bird couldn’t fly, it could walk or swim away when approached by people trying to help, she said.
Finally, with Santopietro’s help, the goose was caught on the hill behind the doctor’s offices on East Avenue, opposite Mill Pond.
Discarded fishing line found around Mill Pond in April, 2023.
“He managed to capture it and together we were able to cut the hook and the lure and the fishing line out from around the left wing,” Halm said. “We were able to release the goose because there was no sign of a wound or damage, and it flew off.”
She added, “The bottom line is that we could not have rescued this goose without his [Santopietro’s] help. I’m just glad there was no damage, because my fear at that point was a damaged wing that would require a lot of effort, but there was zero sign of injury.”