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Submitted by John Eastman, Senior District Executive of Boy Scouts of America, Longs Peak Council: The Fishing Derby started out just like past years for Cub Pack 673 of Longmont (chartered by Hygiene United Methodist Church), but this year a surprise was in store that none of the youth had planned for.
Every May, Pack 673 starts its list of summer outdoor adventures with a Fishing Derby at Izaak Walton youth fishing pond on Sunset Street next to St. Vrain Creek. The Cub Scout Pack -- with membership hovering around one hundred youth -- usually has a strong showing for the event with 30-40 youth anglers busy snagging socks, shrubs and the occasional parent on their way to derby dominance.
Asst. Den Leader Jeff F. and the other adult volunteers planned for an early start with bagels and juice to energize the pack of excited Cub Scouts, Webelos (ages five to ten) and their parents. However, the boys and girls often skip the breakfast snacks so they can find their favorite spot and be prepared for bait to hit the water right on the 8:00 am mark in order to compete for the First Catch of the Day Award.
For those Tigers (first graders) who may never have fished before, it is a thrilling event to get one of the 4-inch blue gill on the line. With the help of their parent or Den Leader, they get the wiggling fish off the hook, measured, and back safely into the water for another lucky angler to lure with worms, salmon eggs or any number of stinky goodies that the fishes are so fond of. There’s a First-catch Ever Award!
As the May morning heated up, the fishing slowed down. A few of the older Webelos decided to change to the opposite side of the pond to find a better fishing hole. As the youth located a new spot, Jameson F. saw something odd on the bank of the pond: a gosling all alone. While it was the season for mother geese and their goslings to be learning how to survive in the pond, it was not typical at all to see a baby by itself. Jameson F. pointed the little one out to his den-mates Colby D. and Erik Y. They observed the gosling and noticed that it was not moving at all and its head was drooped like it was sad. Something was not right! The boys alerted the adult leaders in the area – an investigation was warranted.
Under the supervision of the adults, the boys crept closer to the gosling and to their surprise it did not try to evade them. It was sick or something else was wrong. The boys made way for the Pack Leader to see what was wrong. A quick examination revealed that the gosling was bound up in fishing line and needed help right away.
With the help of the Webelos, the leader started unwrapping the line and cutting it with clippers, but soon they all discovered the real problem – the fishing line was protruding from the gosling’s beak and had gotten wrapped around its body, wings and legs forming a deadly tourniquet. But what came next was even worse. To their horror they discovered the baby had swallowed the fish hook and it was protruding out of the side of its neck! This required emergency first aid in the field.
The leaders carefully cradled the gosling, cutting the fishing line close to the bird’s beak and gently pulled the hook out the side of the gosling’s neck allowing the fishing line to follow. The gosling rested in the Scout leaders’ hands for a minute and then revived.
When the gosling was set on the ground, off it ran -- but in the opposite direction from the pond and right toward the parking lot! Operation Gosling Wrangle was on! The Webelos, keeping their distance and coached by Asst. Den Leader Scott Y., formed a semi-circle between the gosling and the cars and helped redirect it back to the pond where everyone hoped mother goose would be waiting. The boys found it isn’t easy to corral an errant gosling, but they persevered and got it home. The baby made it to the pond and disappeared into the reeds.
The derby ended with the awarding of Fishing Derby patches for all participants. After a hot lunch and clean up, the gosling was last seen reunited with its brothers and sisters and was swimming home following behind its mother.
That’s a good turn for wildlife conservation and a great experience for the youth.
