The Society does not endorse the capture of goolz. Goolz are not pets. Goolz cannot be kept. A captured gool will, within a small number of hours, simply not be there anymore — and the container will hold instead a single dry leaf, or a button, or once (per a 1987 case file) a paid library fine.

What we offer below is the vetted protocol for ethical close observation — what members of the Society do when they suspect a gool is nearby and would like to see one for a moment.

Protocol Σ-7 · Quiet Approach

  1. Stop walking. Goolz move only when you don't.
  2. Sit down. Preferably on something low — a stump, a step, a stack of phone books.
  3. Place a small offering. Acceptable offerings:
    • one (1) thumbtack (Mossback)
    • one (1) bay leaf, expired (Pantry)
    • one (1) iron filing on a saucer (Bog)
    • any 56k modem sound, looped (Telephone)
    • a bookmark you forgot to remove (Library)
    • a single em-dash on a notecard (Footnote)
    • nothing — sit still — gool will come (Static)
  4. Look slightly away. Eye contact is rude. Goolz appreciate this.
  5. Wait. Up to 40 minutes. The gool may decline today. That is okay.
  6. If the gool appears, do not speak first. If spoken to, answer truthfully.
  7. Thank the gool. Out loud. Even after it leaves.

Forbidden Implements

ItemWhy not
nets, jars, mason jarssee opening warning
flash photographyuniformly considered impolite
baited trapsone (1) Society member, 1994, never spoke again of it
"come here, gool!"they will not
infrared camerasgoolz are visible; they merely choose not to be

Permitted Implements

If You Believe You Have Caught One

Open the container. Apologize. Walk away. Do not look back for at least ten minutes. The gool will leave by means we do not fully understand. The container may contain something else. That is not yours either; leave it. 

       .-""""-.
      / x  x   \
     |  catch-  |
     |  release |
      \________/
        '-..-'