Man Versus Goose — An American Tale

By Alicia Dorr in Miscellaneous on Mar 15, 2006 10:13PM

There once was a man who really didn't like geese. They annoyed him, forced him to scoop up their feces from his once poop-free lawn, and even sent him into his front yard waving his arms around like a maniac.

And then, on Feb. 26, disaster struck.

The man shot at a goose on his property in DuPage County and killed it. His neighbor saw it and decided to report the man because the animals, Canada geese, are considered endangered and are federally protected. The man who reported the offense said he was a reformed hunter "who has seen too many innocent animals suffer at the hands of man."

But the shooter said he never so much as injured a goose when firing pellets in the past. Even so, this one cost him a $250 bond and a court date.

But the event has sparked some real debate about man and an endangered species that also happen to be "a nuisance" and "feisty." It also brings up a question about whether Canada geese, which were even considered extinct in the past but are generally making a comeback, still have rights to the endangered title.

Image via Kurma's Blog