During the annual International Coastal Cleanup Day on Sept. 20 we had an interesting experience that demonstrated the dangers of trash and debris reaching our waters, said Friends of the Bay Executive Director Louise Harrison.

"One of our volunteers saw a Canada goose limping and upon closer inspection saw that it had monofilament fishing line wrapped tightly around its leg and there was swelling above the entanglement. We contacted Volunteers for Wildlife at Caumsett State Park and Sally Ruppert advised me how to use the people on hand as a team to try to capture the goose so we could bring it in for treatment. Ms. Ruppert told me that this particular goose had been reported several times and people had tried to catch it and were unable to. She hoped that since we had a crowd of people, that if we approached the goose methodically, as per her instructions we could be more successful.

"The goose was still able to fly so it successfully evaded us. But it was an object lesson for us all, in the dangers of trash and debris reaching our waters. That is another example of how marine floatables can have a severe impact on ecosystems.

"One of the young people with us, was totally convinced after seeing the goose, or the urgency of the work we were doing that day. Larry and Donna Weiss' daughter Laura was very upset at the plight of the goose," said Ms. Harrison.