Sometime in late June, a strange sight appeared at the foot of Owasco Lake near the Owasco Country Club. A lone Toulouse goose was seen mingling with the resident wild geese and still later swimming with the migrating ducks.

He was the odd man out, and looked lonely and isolated. He stood out from the other feathered band just as the “Ugly Duckling” did in the Hans Christian Anderson's fable.

He often would rest on shore surrounded by ducks and they all en mass would slip into the water if anyone came near. He could be recognized by his bright orange beak, prompting a local youngster to name him “Mr. Orange.” Motorists would slow up and look for him.

Speculation was rampant on where he came from, and who he belonged to.

The territory he covered expanded to the lawns of nearby homes, as he soon became a nuisance because of “the mess he made on their lawns.”

Summer slipped into fall, and soon winter arrived in Owasco with a vengeance. Concern was raised about the goose and what would become of him. Most of the geese and ducks had left for warmer weather in the south. But Mr. Orange remained - maintaining his vigil walking the shore line, or eating the corn on the roadside people had left for him.

My knowledge of Toulouse geese is limited. I knew Fred Fuller of Melrose Road near Town Hall Road had a pair of them for more than 65 years. Yes, I said 65 years. “These geese mate for life,” Fred told us years ago, and “I am 61 years old and my father had this pair when I was a boy.”

The old man would sit in a wooden lawn chair with his geese, one on each side resting their heads on his lap, and would croon to them in Polish. After he died, it was a familiar sight to see the pair stately crossing the road, the male first followed by his smaller mate. With their long necks extended, they can stand hip high. How I wish I remembered their names!

It was a sad day when the female was killed in the road. Fred told us how her mate grieved for her. Each day the goose would cross the road and lay in the ditch where the pair together would seek the water always flowing there. It wasn't long before Fred found the forlorn goose dead in the ditch. He literally pined away for his mate. We miss Fred Fuller and the sight of his Toulouse geese.

I suspect Mr. Orange at the foot of the lake had lost his mate too, and sought out the companionship and protection of other geese. However, snow banks, bitter winter weather, cars and corn thrown on the roadside can be treacherous to a lone fellow trying to survive.

Ellis and Irene Ward of Rockefeller Road received several calls about this perilous situation. “Was the goose one of their flock?” One concerned wildlife member actually asked them to go get the goose. Ellis was hesitant, because he did not want to upset the residents fearing he belonged to someone in the area.

The situation escalated. More calls came, and Ellis asked a former student of his to help him catch the goose. Earlier this month at dark, they organized a rescue party.

The student now grown, brought along his son and his wife to aid in the rescue attempt.

“The boy was quick,” Ellis said.

“He could pick out a duck that needed catching, get it away from the group and swoop it up - just like that,” Irene Ward added.

So at dark, they walked along the wall near the Country Club looking for the miscreant goose. Ellis is legally blind, and needed the boy to tell him where steps were, or fallen logs or other obstacles. Mr. Orange was sighted, and quickly slipped to the safety of the water and out of reach.

On Saturday, Dec. 15, Ellis with his sons Mike and Ken took the truck into Auburn to buy Christmas gifts. The boys know their father. When he slyly suggested they put a bird crate in the back, they knew their Dad had a plan, and that they were now involved.

The trip around the foot of the lake near the Country Club was uneventful. Big relief!

But, on the way home on the roadside near the Country Club eating scattered corn was the Toulouse goose! Dads plan now demanded a go situation.

The truck was parked in the Country Club driveway, and the three men set out to catch the elusive goose. Ellis told the boys, “I'll go across the road, and keep him from crossing over and reaching the lake.”

He carefully crossed the road, and Ken called, “Dad, some people are watching us from their window.”

“Of course they are,” snapped Ellis, “you are on their lawn!”

The goose was headed toward the club under the boys expert coaxing when the people in the window now came outside and asked Ellis, “Are you here to save the goose?” Big relief.

Mike now had the goose in direct eye contact next to their truck, while Ken sneaked up from behind, reached out, and caught the goose! He quickly put him in the crate in the back of the truck.

So for everyone who has worried about the fate of the lonely goose at the foot of the lake, I am pleased to report the following information.

Mr. Orange is now safe, warm, watered and fed in the Ward Barn on Rockefeller Road. He will be separated from “the Girls” as Irene affectionately calls them for awhile, and eventually Mr. Orange will be introduced to the flock.

The question has been raised if he should have his wings clipped so he wouldn't fly away. With several girls to keep happy, who would want to leave?

This is one goose who is not going to be cooked for Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone! I will see you in January!

- Sources: Interviews with Fred Fuller in the 1970s and Ellis and Irene Ward

on Dec. 16

Laurel Auchampaugh is the Owasco Historian and can be reached at the Owasco Town Hall from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday afternoons or at nowthenwasco@aol.com