Saving Springer cost the taxpayers a pretty penny

It was a scene worthy of a full-length Disney motion picture extravaganza — if it hadn’t already been done, twice.

Adorable Springer, a wayward toddler Orca whale, was captured and repatriated into her native waters off the coast of British Columbia last weekend.

Cue the violins and roll the credits. It’s another happy ending.

Hundreds of her human friends worked in concert to nab, treat and liberate the young mammal who spent her spring and early summer frolicking in a South Sound ferry lane. Showing no sign of migration away from the highly populated area, Springer hung out with boaters as her health began to deteriorate. A decision was made to intervene.

Play-by-play breaking coverage of Springer’s journey to Dong Chong Bay in Johnstone Strait dominated the news on Saturday. With a donated catamaran (heavily laden with advertising messages) cruising across the water below, a news helicopter followed along offering overhead images of the entire trip. Reporters waited anxiously on the shore as the media frenzy and public interest peaked. Fortunately, it was smooth sailing and Springer was set free on Sunday to rejoin her pod of family members.

It’s estimated that the cost to Washington taxpayers for the relocation of Springer is upwards of $250,000. That’s not counting another $100,000 absorbed by the folks in Canada or the countless hours of volunteer effort. It’s all worth it — right?

While it’s a wonderful thing that we did for this struggling whale, we’re not nearly so kind and compassionate when it comes to our fellow human beings. For example, a toddler in our community dies a brutal death (the alleged victim of child abuse) and there is little or no public outcry; no angry letters to the editor denouncing the death as intolerable. On the other hand, geese presenting a growing public health hazard in Lake Stevens are killed and we get dozens of letters in angry protest.

It’s not that saving Springer or a handful of Canadian Geese aren’t both worthwhile endeavors, but we’re left to wonder what $350,000 would have done for needy human toddlers on dry land.