posted 04-17-2007 12:47 PM                    

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April 17. 2007 6:59AM
Some worry nest site in Mishawaka's theater's lot unsafe

ALICIA GALLEGOS
Tribune Staff Writer

MISHAWAKA -- Visitors walking to and from a local theater multiplex may be surprised to find that one of the main attractions has nothing to do with the day's showings.

Much to the curiosity of patrons, a mother goose has set up shop near the ticket booth, apparently deciding that a pile of wood chips in the parking lot of Movies 14 is an egg-cellant place to build a nest.

"People will walk by and she just kind of ignores them," said ticket booth operator Brad Balint. "(The goose) is right in front of us all day."


But while some visitors find the sight humorous, at least one animal lover believes the situation is no laughing matter.

Denise VanDeWalle is concerned for the goose's safety and worried that when the eggs hatch, the babies are also at risk in the high-traffic parking lot.

"You have a lot of young kids speeding through here," VanDeWalle said Sunday, after feeding the unnamed goose. "I can't imagine (the babies) making it in this parking lot."

VanDeWalle is from South Bend, but now lives in Ohio. She first noticed the goose after seeing a movie with her parents while in town for Easter weekend.

Since then, VanDeWalle has been driving by the parking lot when in South Bend to check on the goose and stopping to throw bread near the nest. A torn beverage container filled with water has also been placed by the goose by another visitor.

VanDeWalle said she's seen firsthand teenagers intentionally stomping near the goose, trying to frighten her.

Balint and another ticket booth operator, Heather Block, also said they've seen children poking and prodding the bird.

"We've had to go out there and stop them," Balint said. "She gets pretty angry (and almost) bit someone. He would've deserved it."

The goose has been in the parking lot for a couple of weeks, employees said, and built her nest inside a median near a handicapped parking spot.

Many moviegoers walking by the spot Sunday did a double take after seeing the goose, and some drivers even slowed down to take a better look.

VanDeWalle said she's been so worried about the goose, she's called theater officials as well as the Department of Natural Resources to see what can be done.

Block said management contacted the Humane Society, but that officials said they could not remove the nest without destroying the eggs.

What may appear to be an odd place to build a home is more common than some may think, said Gary Langell with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

"They become adapted to urban environments," he said Monday. "In bigger cities, they nest on rooftops of buildings."

If the nest is moved, Langell said there's no guarantee that the mother will find the new location attractive or continue to raise the eggs.

Besides, he said, for the nest to be moved or touched, a permit must be granted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and only a property owner can be approved for the permit.

VanDeWalle said she's tried to convince movie officials to pursue a permit but hasn't had much luck.

A Movies 14 manager said Monday she couldn't talk to media about any issues, including the goose. She referred all questions to the Cinemark corporate office.

Two messages seeking comment left for separate Cinemark executives were not returned Monday.

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