A Canadian goose named Wilson finally flew freely.
The bird was released on Sunday at Brennan Park Field in Squamish, and dozens of people gathered to cheer him on.
When the cage door opened, Wilson took some tentative steps, turning to a nearby flock of geese and flying, marking the end of a months-long rescue effort that brought together local photographers, veterinarians, wildlife rescuers and the entire community.
“I’m so glad to see that he finally got a second chance to live,” said Tim Cyr, a former key figure in leading the rescue effort.
Wilson goose caught public attention last year on the back of an arrow. After several months of treatment, he was released back to the wild today. CBC’s Sohrab Sandhu captures dramatic moments there.
Goose, named after the volleyball of the movie abandonLast year, a training arrow hit a dull angle.
He ended up heading to Squamish, where he was tracked by Cyr for about seven months.
Sier said Wilson kept gliding despite multiple attempts to attract him.
He told CBC News: “We tried many different ways to grab his network, blankets, etc.”
Last October, Cyr launched a GoFundMe campaign to buy a cyber gun, a humane capture tool that can shoot a net on animals, bringing $3,300. The BC Wildlife Rescue Society purchased the device and Wilson was finally captured in January.
Wilson was taken to Dewdney Animal Hospital in Maple Ridge where veterinarian Dr. Adrian Walton removed the arrow and treated the wound it left behind.
“There is a big hole left behind,” he said. “It’s a big fear that the loophole will continue to be abandoned and become an abscess and recovery will be delayed.”
But after weeks of treatment, Wilson was transferred to Mars wildlife rescue near Courtenay, Vancouver Island, where he spent two months recovering.
“He likes us very much, like other geese,” said Mars volunteer Dylan Doucet. “But considering his experience, he has more energy than average.”
Doucet met Wilson’s temper with his own eyes.
“There were at least 10 bites. I would say that during the time I was dealing with them, that was predictable.”
Doucet helped ship Wilson back to the next continent and released on Sunday.
Before letting him go, Dr. Walton gave Wilson a final inspection and a full flight.
“The feather is back,” Walton said. “There is a little scar tissue, but it’s not damaged.”
Sier then opened the cage and the onlookers watched quietly. Wilson hesitated for a moment, then walked out and flew straight into a flock of geese.
All points west9:55“Wilson” Canadian goose is in Vancouver Island Wildlife Rescue
A wildlife photographer in Squamish found a Canadian goose with arrows. The effort to save the bird took seven months but was arrested this week and is now recovering at the Vancouver Island Wildlife Center. Warren Warttig, chairman of the Mars Wildlife Rescue Center, explained.
Sier said he hoped for a proper farewell.
“I kind of wish he gave me a little bite,” he said. “He knows me very well.”
Walton stood nearby, obviously exciting.
“I only see the worst parts,” he said. “So, being able to experience good parts is a huge advantage for me.”
Walton imagines what Wilson might be thinking when the goose rejoined his flock.
“I think he was just sitting there, ‘Man, I have a story for you – you don’t want to know what happened in the past few months.’’
Wildlife photographer Tim Cyr and veterinarian Adrian Walton recorded a goose named Wilson the moment they worked together and removed an arrow from the back.
