By Jack McShane

I have never thought of murder ever happening here in our much beloved Andes, especially that of a mother when attempting to protect her offspring. Yet it happened right here in Bussey Hollow, that hallowed place thought safe by most of its residents. This incredibly wanton act was committed in the darkness of night by an unknown assailant who left the scene, carried off the body of a mother, leaving only the signs of a valiant struggle to save herself, her family and protect her home.

I paid a visit to the perimeter of the crime scene, the nest of resident Canada geese or Branta canadensis, therefore the title of this piece. This was after I was alerted by the gander that made the atrocity known to all in the vicinity the morning after the crime with some loud and very forlorn honks which were a far cry from his normal very exuberant blasts. The scene on a small island in the upper pond showed only a trail of bloodied feathers, four jumbled eggs, a rumpling of nesting material and no forensic evidence, such as a bit of fur, that might help identify the perp. Alas, on the second evening after the attack, what was left of the nest was again visited by the presumed assassin, who then made off with the precious eggs, no longer under maternal guardianship. Shards of eggshells were found on the opposite bank. 

I continued to survey the site and surrounding turf and on the fourth day after the attack, the gander in the company of another goose. These two, seemingly comfortable and content waddling around nibbling grass and flying together pond to pond. Now, what the hell? Did he get so lucky that a single female happened to come by and hooked up with him, or had mom somehow survived the attack and been a few days in hiding while recovering? My detective instinct doubted the second scenario as this goose did not look disheveled and bloodied, and showed no other sign of assault. But really there is no way of telling whether this was the original mate or a new one as they all look the same to me.

As Canada geese are known to mate for life, in fairness I should rule out infidelity if in fact the original mate was killed. There is a good chance this pair will be back next year to try again, as they have for the past twenty years or so. Yet considering history, it is doubtful that they will be successful in raising a brood, as they have not been in those years of trying. Some predacious assailant has always wreaked havoc on the nest. Maybe if it is a new mate this will bring them luck. I am now treated to a very vocal and apparently happy pair making morning liftoff for what appears to be an aerial journey to the not-too-distant reservoir.

I am still left uneasy with this unsolved case, trying to figure out the species of the culprit which my gut tells me was likely a mink, and, in this instance, a large male which might be capable of taking down a goose, a relatively large and strong bird. Why a mink? The nest is situated on a small island in one of three ponds, and I don’t feel that a raccoon, fisher or coywolf is apt to swim out to it. The otter that had made some very successful fishing and frogging forays in the ponds a number of years ago has not returned, as far as I know, so at this time Ollie is not among the usual suspects. As part of the continuing investigation, my son suggested I put a trail cam on the stream entrance to the pond.  After two weeks in place, it showed no appearance of a potential culprit. The crime goes unsolved like many others now on the books at this time and will most likely remain so.

I feel I must make further comment on this incident. For us folks of the Homo sapiens species, what occurred might be taken as a very sad and tragic story, but using the reality of nature, this was a story of great success for the taker of the

I am still left uneasy with this unsolved case, trying to figure out the species of the culprit which my gut tells me was likely a mink, and, in this instance, a large male which might be capable of taking down a goose, a relatively large and strong bird. Why a mink? The nest is situated on a small island in one of three ponds, and I don’t feel that a raccoon, fisher or coywolf is apt to swim out to it. The otter that had made some very successful fishing and frogging forays in the ponds a number of years ago has not returned, as far as I know, so at this time Ollie is not among the usual suspects. As part of the continuing investigation, my son suggested I put a trail cam on the stream entrance to the pond.  After two weeks in place, it showed no appearance of a potential culprit. The crime goes unsolved like many others now on the books at this time and will most likely remain so.

I feel I must make further comment on this incident. For us folks of the Homo sapiens species, what occurred might be taken as a very sad and tragic story, but using the reality of nature, this was a story of great success for the taker of the goose and her eggs, as the proceeds might be used to feed some very hungry and appreciative young. This is the natural world where there is no crime, no hate, just the continual reaping of harvest, a necessity for survival. In nature there is no evil and nothing goes to waste. Presently, from many naturalists ’perspectives, there are too many geese taking up nesting habitat, thus precluding their use by other water fowl, some of whose numbers are decreasing for this reason. In the world today, maybe we should step aside and let nature take her course, sans critique and interference. Beware! I feel she just might be considering that there are too many of us taking up space requisite for her other creatures to survive!~