Adopted Mama Goose...

Beautiful Coeur d’Alene Lake in North Idaho provides the inspiration for author/illustrator Carol Muzik. Her deep connection to nature and the animals and plants that live in it, is filled to the brim at her lakeside home. You're likely to find her intently listening to and watching the birds and animals in their joyful life in the woods. Looking across her bay, Carol is awed by the multitude of waterfowl that make the lake their home, and feels compelled to do what she can to protect their habitat.

 

With camera in hand Carol documented the appearance of an orphaned little gosling in her family’s life.

Telling the story about Lucy began organically—that is, in a natural progression—from talking with friends, customers, and to increasingly larger groups through stories and pictures at her art gallery in Harrison.

Visitors began telling her that she should write a book about her goose.

Wanting to take what she felt was good advice, she decided to form Raising Lucy Studios and first put her photographs into a short video, Raising Lucy-A True Story, then she produced a documentary film with a local filmmaker. The documentary won nine film festival awards nationally including a Best Documentary award at the Charleston International Film Festival in 2009. 

During that same time, Carol began to write and draw even more.  Wanting to connect children to nature and art she published her first book in 2008, Raising Lucy Coloring Storybook and Video, which includes a DVD with her short short film.

In late 2009, she released her full-color hardcover Picture Book: Raising Lucy–The True Story of Raising an Orphaned Wild Goose and has now published the second edition which just arrived in October 2011.

 

Now with her books and video in hand, Carol shares Lucy’s inspirational story in schools and libraries to appreciative audiences who are learning the importance of respecting animals in their true home.  Carol is also an Artist in Residence with the Idaho Commission on the Arts - see her artist's statement at their site.  She is also available with EWU's Get Lit! Author Tours to teach creative writing.  

 

Beyond her studio, Carol is board secretary for the Kootenai Environmental Alliance.                                Author photo : Joel Riner, Quicksilver Photography

 

Temporary Goose Parents...

Carol and her husband, Nick, both agree that raising Lucy was a great experience, but one not taken lightly. Because they could not find the help they requested and needed, they wanted to keep Lucy safe until then. They tell people in the same boat (so to speak) to do the right thing—take the animal to a rehabber.  It is exactly what they would do now.

 

The Muziks now give money to those experts, 'wildlife rehabbers', and tell others to NEVER take an animal out of the wild.

 

They know many well-intentioned people think an animal that’s left alone is orphaned, when that may not be true.

 

From their experience, Carol and Nick suggest you consult your Fish and Game department or other wildlife experts in your area before assuming an animal is orphaned.

 

 

 

 

Got A Goose?

If you find an orphaned animal or bird, what do you do? Get advice in our free document, “What To Do If You Find A Baby Bird” (pdf)...click the text link below. Plus, browse our links to people and organizations dedicated to protecting wild animals and their habitat on our Resources & Links page.

What To Do If You Find A Baby Bird (pdf) - Download Now