Man needs to clean up act, not Canadian geese

Published Thursday, April 3, 2008

The article on the Canadian honker was outstanding but I have to differ with Brian Hansel in his fault of the honker and its habits in this area.

The best thing that ever happened to this area is when the Norskies, Vikings and Norwegians settled in this area.

The next best thing was when George Lilstrand and the Fergus Falls Fish and Game Club introduced the greater Canadian honker to Fergus Falls. And since they too, are part of God’s kingdom, they have brought forth much charm, beauty and love to Fergus Falls.

Hansel noted how the goose droppings are messy and that the geese eat grass. I have never known anybody to get hurt or killed by walking on some goose droppings. If the geese should munch on some grass, it will save the effort and pain of mowing that grass. If one should have some goose do-do on his shoes, all one has to do is take a paper towel in hand, bend over and wipe the shoe clean. Easy enough.

Just to observe and watch this beautiful creature that God has given us, makes up for their few and minor faults. Because of the Fergus Falls geese it has brought fourth positive advertising that has helped put Fergus Falls on the map just that much more. Fergus Falls has always been noted as a tree city but with the introduction of the honker and with the trumpeter swan wintering in Fergus Falls and nesting in the adjoining areas, Fergus is more famous than ever.

Hansel noted how the farmers are not happy with how the geese are eating up the crops. I think this subject is well over exaggerated and almost all the complaining comes from the big operator, not the small farmer.

If some farmer experienced losses because of the geese and the little yellow robbers, I believe that hefty rich check that they receive from the federal government every year easily compensates their light losses due to the geese.

We are all spoiled and tend to cry at times, but some people are very spoiled. There are those who complain if their ice cream is too cold, or those who complain if there lefse has too much butter on it. I have never known a goose to cheat on his mate, do drugs, or get drunk, forever complain or kill and maim his fellow neighbor.

Can man say this? I don’t think so.

Geese are very innocent, while man is not. Animals are not evil, man is evil. To find that out, all you have to do is read your paper.

In closing, I would like to say that animals are closer to God than many so-called Christians. It’s man that needs to clean up his act, not an innocent animal like our Canadian honker.

Vince Ebbighausen - Fergus Falls