Take Action to Stop Mamaroneck, NY Goose Slaughter
ACTION ALERT:
Contact: Edita Birnkrant, NY Director
edita@friendsofanimals.org
Mamaroneck, NY Set to Slaughter Canada Geese in Parks
Calls to Mayor Norm Rosenblum Needed to Stop the Killing
The town of Mamaroneck, NY located in Westchester County on Long Island Sound, announced it’s hiring USDA agents this summer to annihilate Canada geese who reside in Harbor Island Park, the town’s largest park, and other areas. USDA’s “Wildlife Services” will also destroy eggs in nests, in addition to rounding-up and killing adult geese and goslings starting in June 2013.
Mayor Norm Rosenblum, who ordered the killing, claims goose droppings are too numerous — charging ahead with an intolerant, misguided assault — even though Mamaroneck purchased a $30,000 “Toro Rake-O-Vac” machine to effectively remove goose droppings from grassy areas and parks. Go figure.
The Mayor needs a different mindset, and plan to use the machine recently purchased with tax dollars to clean up goose droppings in parks. Officials must make it a policy to clean up waste matter instead of saying all geese within town limits must die. Posting signs and enforcing no-feeding and littering rules are also sensible steps.
Mayor Rosenblum told News 12 Westchester that Mamaroneck paid for dogs to chase the geese away but “it didn’t work.” Friends of Animals could have predicted that. Harassing geese from areas won’t work because if flat, grassy areas remain unchanged. Geese will move in when others leave, occupying those areas for nesting, especially in the summer.
Habitat and landscape modifications are environmentally sound, long-term ways to deter geese from areas where they are seen as problematic — clearly what’s needed in Mamaroneck. Co-existence with geese and other wildlife neighbors is required as a part of evolved suburban living. Is Mayor Rosenblem prepared to spend the residents’ taxes each year to kill geese instead of implementing the effective strategies Friends of Animals endorses?
Geese are attracted to areas with short, mowed grass with open sight lines as safe nesting areas. Growing grass longer in areas, planting native shrubs and trees to block sight lines (geese like to watch for predators), will deter geese from ponds, shores and parkland — reducing the time they spend in any one spot — especially for the 6 week period in summer when they’re moulting.
Friends of Animals produces a Canada Goose Habitat Modification Manual detailing this process, and hopes to meet with Mayor Rosenblum to present him with the manual. We’ll urge him to implement the changes and spare the geese.
Take Action:
Please call Mayor Norm Rosenblum and tell him to cancel the mean-spirited plan to slaughter Canada geese. Remind him that goose roundups are monstrous—USDA 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. Ask the Mayor if he imagines such immorality is preferable to cleaning the grass and modifying some habitat and landscapes.
Village of Mamaroneck -Mayor Norman S. Rosenblum
Phone: (914) 777-7738
E-Mail: nrosenblum@vomny.org
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23 Comments
On February 26, 2013, susan rudnicki wrote:
The Mayor’s office does not pick up the phone as listed above—-so I will email A supporter
On February 26, 2013, Elizabeth Allancorte wrote:
OMG, The Mayor is so… misguided in his efforts to solve a potential problem situation. This is such a bad example of the wrong approach toward animal & human interaction issues. This is a huge waste of tax-payer $$$$$. This is absolutely NOT what the USDA should be engaged in doing. Another example of massively wasting tax-payer $$$$$, when their time & focus should be engaged in inspecting food safety at food/meat processing plants, etc. not the terrorism tactics of a massive slaughter of our wildlife.
On February 26, 2013, Dori Cole wrote:
Clean grass or kill completely innocent animals? If you have to think about this, I must question your decision making ability.
Please, cancel the geese slaughter plan. This is common sense.
Thank you for your kind consideration
Sincerely,
Mrs. Cole and family
On February 26, 2013, Kim wrote:
I talked with them today and they claimed that the Rake-o-vac is doing great cleaning up poop. We just need to convince them to give it a chance! It makes no sense whatsoever that they want to kill geese in light of the fact that they are satisfied with the poop removal.
On February 26, 2013, Victoria in Portland wrote:
We live in harmony with our wildlife in the Pacific NW, why can’t you? Follow the advice of wildlife experts because killing should never, ever be an option! What are you teaching your children and the community that it’s OK to kill wild creatures that has every right to be here as humans?
On February 26, 2013, Roger Mogan wrote:
I am simply outraged that our elected officials can do such mindless and unnecessary things like killing animals to clean up a park area. Are they going to do this every year when the Geese come back?
This guy ought to have his head examined, and the residents should insist on humane ways to “clean the grass.”
The man, Mayor Rosenblum is an idiot.
On February 26, 2013, Nano wrote:
The geese have been in Mamaroneck in similar numbers since at least the eighties, as I recall. Why the sudden “need” to eradicate? While massive yachts are constructed just upstream and petrochemical leaks continue to defile the water, how ridiculous to get extreme over goose droppings.
On February 26, 2013, Lisa Reff wrote:
Killing a living creature with feelings, a family, a life it wants to live is no answer to anything. It is unacceptable and cruel and this kind of policy is not progressive or evolved. Compassion for all living creatures IS the point.
On February 26, 2013, Linda Dennis wrote:
I also sent an email to help the geese, hope they don’t kill them.
On February 26, 2013, Debra runion wrote:
Please cancel the geese slaughter
On February 26, 2013, Philip Hill wrote:
Mr Rosenblum,
As a sailor and an animal lover of all species I have lived with messy Canadian geese for decades. At the marina in the parks everywhere, even a nest right next to my boat one year while they hatched. No true humane person or man of substance would resort to a cull to alleviate goose droppings. Is this the best initiative you provide to show leadership for your community. Have you investigated how cities the size of Toronto ( a metro of many millions) cope, which by the way hasn’t committed an act so barbaric and we have flocks upon flocks of the nefarious Cormorant rampant. Look at the principled ways that work such as have been mentioned to you re: habitat. I must admit I nearly came to Mamaroneck to buy a sailboat a year or so ago and perused your town online, now I wouldn’t visit such a town with so cruel and barbaric alternatives. I’m sure you mayoralty could be better served embracing life not destroying it.
Yours sincerely,
Philip Hill
Toronto, Ontario
Canada
SV Arrgh & Arrgh
On February 27, 2013, Martha Milne wrote:
Please use the machine you bought to clean the grass, and let these beautiful birds live. Inhumanity is never the right approach. The chances that more geese will come is great. We can share and must share this incredible blue planet with other life forms, otherwise we’re all on the endangered list. Please do the right. Treat these innocent creatures humanely, please don’t slaughter them.
Mrs. M. Milne and family
On February 27, 2013, Peter wrote:
Governments will very typically take the lazy way to “resolve” issues of human-animal conflict. And the problems are just perpetuated. Residents should be embarrassed about the lack of reasoned thought that their legislators have put into this issue.
On February 27, 2013, Debbie Landauer wrote:
Please apply tax dollars to another solution. The geese are God’s creatures also. They should be cherished.
On February 27, 2013, Lisa Marsilii wrote:
I have emailed the mayor and made a case that the only sane, humane, and solid solution is modifying the parks to remove the features that draw the geese, in addition to putting in waterfowl buffer areas to satisfy the birds’ needs. I hope others will write him and do the same. Also asked him why he isn’t utilizing the machine bought with taxpayer dollars to remove the droppings, in the meantime.
On February 27, 2013, esther peterson wrote:
Please leave the geese alone. Use the machine that is available for the cleanup. Is killing the only answer, I think not. Use the brain that God gave you and think of a better plan. Remember the animals do not do as much to Mother Earth that the humans do.
On February 27, 2013, Cindy wrote:
This is just absurd the way “politicians” think they can stop an animal, natural to this habitat, from staying there. They always want to take the easy way out.. yea, kill them all, that’ll do it…this will stop those darn geese..Oh, please! Residents should be outraged over this. This is idiotic, to say the least. And to use our tax payers dollars? I’ll be real surprised if the Mayor ends up meeting with Friends of Animals for a discussion, but I’ll be hoping that a non-violent resolution will come out of this.
On February 27, 2013, DMan wrote:
Once it starts in New York City, the slaughter will continue elsewhere unless an example is set here to stop this senseless slaughter.
On February 28, 2013, Suzanne Fellows wrote:
Everywhere I turn Animals everywhere are being abused and slaughtered What is wrong with people? Makes me so sad so sad.
On February 28, 2013, Frans wrote:
we are on this earth to MANAGE, not to destroy everything that seems like a problem……we are not thinking, really, we are destroying ourselves.
On February 28, 2013, rita wrote:
look around us — we Are the part of nature! how can we destroy any living creature just to serve our needs? every single thing on a planet have their own purpose! how can we play god? unbelievable decision! How can we help to stop it?
On March 13, 2013, Kim C. wrote:
Studies have shown that if you personally kill an animal on purpose, you have no regard for humanity, you are a killer, and you are only a few short steps away from being a murderer. If a person can slaughter innocent animals that have no way to defend themselves, then that person is the worst kind of person. Too boot, this a Mayor, an animal killer a person who has no regard for humanity, this same person runs a town with people he is supposed to Govern? The hypocrisy is disgusting. Animals are like children and are as innocent as children. Would the Mayor slaughter children because they pooped all over the ground? I hope that animal rescue or animal activists will be able to save the Geese from being slaughtered. Why can’t we all live in harmony with nature? Isn’t that why God made animals too?
On March 14, 2013, rocco molle wrote:
i would drive the pooper scooper machine for free!how could you even think of killing? i am 50 years old i played at the harbor. never bothered me. are the wealthy worried their kids expensive sneakers are to get ruined? give me and the geese a break!