Retired Volunteer Still Doing Doggone Good Work

By Martha Jordan

Published in Waterfowl 2000, News from the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, Vol. 11, Issue 3, Winter 1998-99

Volunteering for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service field work is interesting and rewarding, and, for at least two volunteers, it was doggone good. Their story began in the winter of 1987 when Service biologist/pilot Rod King asked me if I knew anyone who wanted to go to Alaska with a border collie to herd geese. I did, and it was the beginning of an incredible life journey for two remarkable border collies, Tucker and Lass.
           
Their assignment took them to southwestern Alaska's Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge. Service biologists/pilots used aircraft to herd molting geese down sloughs to a banding site. Once the birds were on shore, Tucker and Lass took over, driving them into a trap where bird banders laid in wait. Tucker and Lass did their job so well, they were invited back the following summer.

After two summers on the Delta, they were asked to assist with the Aleutian Canada Goose Translocation Project on the Aleutian Islands. Over the project's 8-year span, other dogs and handlers were added to the program. Tucker and Lass retired after four successful seasons.

For their volunteer services, Tucker and Lass each won a national Take Pride in America award. They were unable to receive the award personally from President George Bush and the First Dog, Millie, at a formal White House ceremony, because they were needed in Alaska to herd geese.  Duty first.

After retiring as Service volunteers, Tucker and Lass continued to lead interesting lives. Lass worked until the last years of her life, albeit at a slower pace than during her days of winning sheep-herding trials. Lass was 17 when she went to the happy herding grounds.

Tucker Is now 12 years young. Arthritis caused him to retire from regular herding duties, but his zest for life remained.  He helped capture sick and injured swans in western Washington during the winter. He also assists in raising cygnets during the summer. The latter is a project he took very seriously. He has helped care for 16 cygnets and several adult swans during their transition from captive breeding programs in Washington State to the Trumpeter Swan Restoration Program in Iowa.

Tucker also has a personal life that is the envy of many humans. He is regularly invited to entertain at picnics and to go sailing or canoeing, leaving me to wait on the porch for his return. Tucker also loves birdwatching. I'l chauffeur him toa birding site where he'll sit in the front seat of the car, resting his chin on the window sill. His eyes will be riveted on the birds in the field. I swear I can hear him saying "I'l get them all for you. C'mon open the door, I can still do it." His ears will twitch, just waiting to hear one more "Go Bye!"

If you were to ask Tucker, I'm sure he'd say that his life has been a paws-itively woofunderful experience. And on his behalf, I's like to thank all of those who have helped to make it that way.

Tucker passed away shortly after his 14th birthday in February 2000.  His legacy lives on with Tucker's KBD Fund.  A tribute to helping wildlife with dedicated dogs and their people.