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The geese are not hurting anyone
Published Thursday, November 13, 2008
For the most part The Journal editorials are outstanding, but there are those times when they are far from correct and off base To identify these geese as aggressive toward human beings is almost funny. If one is to walk around Lake Alice, I think one should be more concerned for his safety if he might encounter a drunk driver, robber molester, etc.
I have never ever heard of a person attacked or injured by a goose. Man should clean up his own bad habits than fret and worry abut the Canadian honker.
Us humans are spoiled and there are some that are very spoiled and complain if there ice cream is too cold or if there is too much lefse on his plate with too much butter on it.
We would have something to cry about if we lived in New Orleans, California or on the Texas coast with high water and high pollution. Thank God we don’t live in the Middle East or Africa, with their wars and starvation. Thank your lucky stars you’re not serving in combat in Iraq or Afganistan. Thank the good Lord that you’re alive, healthy and free. Be grateful, count your blessings and don’t cry please.
When the great Canadian honker was introduced to this area 45 years ago by George Licstrand and the Fergus Falls Fish and Game club, they were classified as a nearly extinct bird. Because of the hard efforts of these people, the project was a winner and it was a benefit to many people. The hunters have enjoyed their times with these birds. People have mingled with these birds by taking pictures, feeding them, etc., and with the results of love and joy to the geese and to humans. Along with humans, these birds are also a part of God’s family.
My wife and I have camped and have been close to nature within the Boundary Waters of Minnesota and on the Island of Ilse Royal in Lake Superior for more than 45 years. Not once did we have a bad experience with an animal, be it a moose, wolf, bear, beaver, rabbit or deer mouse, but have had some bad experiences with man.
In my employment with Otter Tail Power, my partner and I would ground-patrol and inspect 1,300 miles of high voltage lines every winter. In all those years, we never experienced a bad incident with an animal, be it wolf, bear, skunk, horse or farm animal. The truth of the matter is that we had some very bad incidents with humans. Animals are very honest and fair, where there are humans that are not. The truth of the matter is that animals are closer to God than many so-called Christians.
The heavy use of chemicals and wasteful habits of human beings have done more to pollute Lake Alice than the geese or commorants or egrets. The earth’s surface is screwed up because of man’s selfish interests. Thousands of people are affected by air pollution and many die every day.
The Minnesota River is the second worst polluted river in America and because of man’s selfish habits. The Gulf of Mexico is slowly dying.
If you don’t like geese in your yard, with a little effort, you can put up a wire fence. If they are in your way driving around Lake Alice, slow down and obey the speed limit. Eliminate the heavy use of chemicals and lawns and roads. To save gas and live longer and help reduce air pollution, start walking. I feel man needs to clean up his act, first and above all.
An individual made a beautiful carving of a blind man along with a snake. He received negative comments abut the snake being with the blind man. I shall never forget his answer. Quote: “Snakes are not evil, animals are not evil; It is man that is evil.”
All you have to do is read your daily paper to see — that’s proof enough — man is good and bad.
Man needs to clean up his act. The birds of Lake Alice are not hurting anybody.
Vince Ebbighausen - Fergus Falls
Comments
The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Witty is great. Abusive is not. If you think a post violates these standards, don't escalate the situation. Instead, flag the comment to alert us. We'll take action if necessary. It's not hard. This should be a place where people want to read and contribute -- a place for spirited exchanges of opinion. So those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post at all.Posted by edrule3 (anonymous) on November 13, 2008 at 1:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You can tell it's hunting season again. All night long, the geese on the lake yak, yak yak. I suppose if you could understand geesespeak you'd hear things like. . . "I got shot. It hurts so bad. I'm bleeding out. I'm getting weak. I won't make it tomorrow. Go ahead without me. Goodbye" or from another, "I saw my mother fall from the sky and plummet back into the lake" or another, "We planned to fly back to where we met and then start our family, but now she's gone. Has anyone seen her?", and on and on, through the night, yak, yak, yak.
Posted by AmyO (anonymous) on November 13, 2008 at 1:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh my goodness. edrule, please tell me you're being facetious.
Posted by luvmyboys (anonymous) on November 13, 2008 at 2:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"...now she's gone. Has anyone seen her?".
Yeah, I saw her. She was in my crockpot, and she was delicious!
Posted by BloopTriple (anonymous) on November 13, 2008 at 4:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Fabulous letter, Vince. I used to walk around Lake Alice several times every day, and I have yet to see these killer geese.
Let's not pretend Lake Alice would be Shangri La if the geese just magically disappeared. Come on.
Fergus is in such a rush to eliminate all things that make it different. Don't be in such a rush to fade into Generica.
Posted by hometown (anonymous) on November 13, 2008 at 5:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The Canadian Goose was almost hunted into extinxtion before we got our act together so I understand where the author is coming from. Having said that, the geese at lake alice need to go. I grew up right next to Lake Alice and always dreamed of a day where we would drain the lake, recover personal items from the cyclone that are inevitably still there and do something constructive with the lake. Yes I went down to feed the ducks and geese when I was young and that was nice but cleaning my shoes afterward? Not so much. It could be a place when you could have canoeing or kayaking and people could actually take their family to lay in the grass for a picinic and such. Because of the dreadful state the lake and surrounding land it is on is sooo bad none of this can happen. At this time in the history of Fergus Falls it is more important then ever to have a place in Fergus where all families and friends can go and just enojoy each others company and have some fun other then at the what 10 or 20+ bars in the area. Lake Alice could be that place. Tear down that crappy warming house and build a modern one where you could buy snacks and have enough room to have lots of people there. Perhaps you cvould even stock fish and maybe even go swimming there keeping the kids alittle closer to home for many folks. You want to attract families to Fergus? This is a good start. You could have city parades and maybe fireworks on the forth of July. It would help allow the citizens of Fergus to really come together rather then divide which so often happens in Fergus these days. None of it will ever be possible until the city decides that it's finest landmark is worth the trouble. I believe it is and unfortunately that means the geese need to go.
Posted by theweasel (anonymous) on November 13, 2008 at 6:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
They are not Canadian geese. But rather Canada Geese.
Posted by metasonics (anonymous) on November 13, 2008 at 7:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
who cares what kind of geese?, we all know they aren't a real problem.
lake Alice will always be polluted.
the storm drains that feed it will make sure of that.
we've spent money on cleaning it up before.
yadda yadda yadda.
Posted by hometown (anonymous) on November 14, 2008 at 9:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why not find out how much it would cost to do a complete overhaul of the land and the lake and then start a funding drive. So what if it takes years to get to the price point, it's still better then doing nothing which it sounds like Fergus has decided to do. Further While I understand that there are more important things Fergus needs to deal with I think that the sorry state of Lake Alice acually turns people off not to mention probably brings property values down. From growing up there I know that there are plenty of people with old money that live on that lake (or used to) and they could be the ones to kick start this thing. It could be a major attraction to the town. It could really be the Jewel of FREGUS FALLS!
Posted by Mel (anonymous) on November 14, 2008 at 5:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The lake does have an outlet, slowly through the ground, into the basements on Lincoln Ave. as it makes its way to the river. (maybe)
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