URGENT: Ask New York Officials to Stop Massacring Geese

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BACKGROUND

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) documents reveal that more than 3,650 geese in the vicinity of New York City airports were rounded up and killed by the agency in the past five years alone, yet it has not recommended humane controls to prevent more birds from flying in and taking up residence. Consequently, the city is caught in a vicious, expensive, and endless killing cycle (which guarantees continued funding for the USDA), and despite an intense public outcry, another annual massacre is apparently proceeding. Helpless molting and flightless birds will again be snatched up, forced into crates, and trucked to slaughter—a terrifying ordeal for any wild animal but especially for a sensitive “prey” species. Such measures also tear families apart and leave orphaned young at great risk. Your voice is desperately needed!

Please urge New York City officials to stop contracting with the USDA to have geese killed and instead employ tried-and-true humane control measures. And then forward this e-mail widely!


WHOM TO CONTACT

Polite comments can be directed to:

Block:

mtarlow@cityhall.nyc.gov; pfoye@panynj.gov

Individual:

Mindy Tarlow
Director, Mayor’s Office of Operations
New York City
mtarlow@cityhall.nyc.gov

Patrick J. Foye
Executive Director
Port Authority of New York & New Jersey
pfoye@panynj.gov


SAMPLE LETTER

Dear Director Tarlow and Executive Director Foye:

I am extremely alarmed to learn of New York City’s decision to cruelly massacre geese via USDA agents. I respectfully request suspension of this violent strategy.

Please allow me to elaborate. First, killing geese 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, sweeping eradication does not reduce long-term growth. Killing geese artificially increases food supplies to the remaining geese, 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 gaggle populations, in subsequent years.

Third, using such barbaric strategies in such visible locations will most certainly affect visitation: agents typically enter the pond area during early morning, roughly separating goslings from parents, and then stuff the bound, panicked geese and babies into crates. Next, the geese are gassed or shot to death. In fact, although I do not currently reside in New York, 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 geese live and institute responsible policies that promote respect and tolerance of wildlife, and commit to habitat/landscape modification as outlined in Friends of Animals’ Canada Goose Habitat Modification Manual, https://friendsofanimals.org/sites/default/files/Goose%20Habitat.pdf in addition to instituting humane control measures.

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

NAME

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we are geese
we were born
with wings…
and so you decide
to kill us because
of your flying things
the air belongs to all
of us,
as does the land…
WHEN WILL YOU HUMANS
UNDERSTAND!!!!!

Karen Lyons Kalmenson