While the city debates how many millions to throw at its next urban wildlife management study, a great blue heron near Golden Gate Park has taken matters into its own beak — hunting gophers the old-fashioned way, no taxpayer funding required.

The majestic bird was spotted this week stalking a gopher-plagued stretch of grass, doing what bureaucracies only dream of: identifying a problem and immediately acting on it. No environmental impact report. No committee meetings. No $400,000 consulting contract. Just a bird, a lawn, and a mission.

Now, the original observer called it an egret, but sharp-eyed locals were quick to correct the record. "I believe that is a great blue heron, not an egret," one SF resident noted, adding that it's "pretty crazy to watch them hunting in GGP." Fair enough — we respect the correction. Accountability matters, even in birding.

Another local shared that a great blue heron had been raiding their backyard pond for goldfish. "Got a few before I chased it off," they said. "They are majestic though." And there it is — San Francisco's relationship with nature in a nutshell. We love wildlife until it starts eating our stuff. Private property rights: even goldfish owners get it.

One resident couldn't resist the pun: "Egrets — I've had a few — but then again, too few to mention." We won't apologize for including that.

Here's the thing: San Francisco is home to an genuinely remarkable urban ecosystem. Great blue herons, red-tailed hawks, coyotes — these animals thrive here not because of city programs but largely in spite of them. They're a reminder that nature doesn't need a line item in the budget. It just needs us to stay out of the way.

So here's to the heron. No permits pulled. No grants awarded. Just results. The most efficient public worker in San Francisco has feathers and a four-foot wingspan.