Pequannock approves waterfowl hunt at PV Park

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BACKGROUND | SOURCE ANIMAL TALK

Pequannock Valley (PV) Park, in northern NJ, has decided to hunt 30 ducks living on a lake in a residential area of NJ. They claim their
droppings are contaminating the water and the best solution is to send someone out to shoot them in the coming weeks (most likely right after ducklings hatch).

The township council and the mayor has approved the hunt, claiming these 30 ducks are the cause of high fecal coliform counts and are a danger to human health. What they have failed to mention is that people dump waste items in the water and there are multiple possible causes for high fecal coliform counts, including direct discharge of waste from mammals and birds, agricultural and storm runoff, and human sewage. These high counts may also be the result of plant material, and pulp or paper mill effluent.

It is extremely unlikely the contamination is caused by 30 little ducks living in a 27 acre park.

Please call/e-mail the mayor and town council members and tell them you are against this hunt and do not believe these ducks are causing a health hazard. Tell them it is cruel to kill these ducks, particularly while they are caring for their newly hatched ducklings. Local NJ residents, please make sure to leave your name and address and ask them to contact you to let you know they are calling off the hunt.

WHOM TO CONTACT

Email Block:

rphelan@peqtwp.org ; mlynch@peqtwp.org ; dkohle@peqtwp.org ; JVcouncil@gmail.com ; Cwinterfield@peqtwp.org

Individual:

Richard Phelan
Mayor
Pequannock Township
530 Newark Pompton Turnpike
Pompton Plains NJ 07444
973.835.5700 Ext 121
973.809.6318 Cell
Mayor Phelan – rphelan@peqtwp.org

Deputy Mayor Florance Lynch – mlynch@peqtwp.org

Councilman Kohle – dkohle@peqtwp.org

Councilman Vanderhoff – JVcouncil@gmail.com

Councilwoman Winterfield – Cwinterfield@peqtwp.org


SAMPLE LETTER

Dear Mayor Phelan, Deputy Mayor Lynch, Councilmen Vanderhoff and Kohle, and Councilwoman Winterfield:

I am extremely alarmed to learn of Pequannock Valley Park’s decision to hunt 30 ducks living on a lake in a residential area of New Jersey.  I respectfully request suspension of this violent strategy.

Please allow me to elaborate. First, killing ducks does nothing to modify landscapes and waterways that attract them in the first place. I encourage officials to work with avian experts on population stabilization and site aversion.

Second, you claim that coliform counts are high and dangerous, but what is not mentioned is that people dump waste items in the water; there are futhermore multiple other possible causes for high fecal coliform counts, including direct discharge of waste from mammals and birds, agricultural and storm runoff, and human sewage. These high counts may also be the result of plant material, and pulp or paper mill effluent.

Third, sweeping eradication does not reduce long-term growth. Killing ducks artificially increases food supplies to the remaining ones, the consequence of which is increased reproduction and an ensuing greater population. In fact, studies have demonstrated that the continual cycle of seasonal eradication is responsible for a rebound, or larger populations, in subsequent years.

Fourth, using such barbaric strategies in such a visible location will most certainly affect visitation:  sending someone out to shoot them in the coming weeks (most likely right after ducklings hatch) is highly visible and greatly cruel. In fact, although I do not currently reside there, I would be unwilling to consider it, or a nearby location, for tourist purposes if this cull ensues.

Please practice compassion and integrity: let the ducks live and institute responsible policies that promote respect and tolerance of wildlife.

Thank you for taking the time to consider this urgent appeal.

NAME

to whom this does not concern but wish it did,

your decision to murder 30 ducks
IS the droppings,
hunting innocent such as these
really sucks,
and should be stopping,
find an intelligent, kind way
to live together, ducks and man.
stop throwing other beings
into the garbage can!!!!!

Karen Lyons Kalmenson