Joe wrote:
Katy we have a unique Goose episode developing here at the marina.
We have a big almost crippled big badass hissing and honking Goose(he
limps around) here in the marina. He had a one eye gander but some
idiot backed up and ran her over a few weeks ago in the shiyard. He
looked for her for a week or so and found a duck sitting on 11 eggs
along the rocks here by my boat. He is standing guard over the duck
24/7, ran off all the male mallards. I think the duck likes him, lots
of people feed him, and she gets a free ride.

Questions:

Will the ducklings think he is the dad when they hatch?

I don't klnow. Mallard drakes aren't known for their parenting
skills...you know that old saying "*eff* a duck"? That's about all
drakes do, eat, crap and have sex. They do not pair or triad bond
like geese do.
Should I explain to him what happened to his Gander?

He already knows. That's what the week of running around looking
for her was. He has moved on after expiating his grief.
I thought about taking him to the Vet to see if he has something in his
foot, but I'm afraid we would injure him in the attempt. Do they have
Goose sleeping pills I can slip to him in a slice of bread?

It's generally against the law in most states to capture a hurt
animal and the vet won't treat it. If you call the DNR, tehy will
most likely kill him. If you're going to be a good samaritan, you
have to do it yourself. And yes, there are drugs that will act on
geese but they are not available to you. He will learn to live with
his infirmity, or he will die. That's the way it's supposed to be
in his world.

Joe

Thanks for caring enough, though, to want to help. When I was a
teenager, my mother had a DNR rescue permit because she worked for
the Humane Society. We raised several batches of abandoned
raccoons, ducklings, squirrels, etc. It is not easy...and they
should always be treated as if they were wild animals with no
attempts to domesticate.