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We advocate on all animal protection and exploitation issues, including experimentation, factory farming, rodeos, breeders and traveling animal acts.

Animal Defenders of Westchester
P.O. Box 205
Yonkers, NY 10704

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 10, 2013

CONTACT:
Kiley Blackman  
[email protected]
www.adow.org   

WILL GRAPE KOOL AID SAVE THE DAY AND THE GEESE IN MAMARONECK?

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY March 10, 2013 At the invitation of members of the Mamaroneck Board of Trustees, Westchester4Geese has submitted its own PROPOSAL to address the so-called 'problem' of the geese in the Village of Mamaroneck (Copy upon request).

This proposal, filed with Mamaroneck on March 7, 2013,  was created in response to Mamaroneck's consideration of a proposal by Steve Garber, who is known for such quotes as, "There are lots of ways to get rid of the geese. You can throw rocks at them. You can hit them with sticks. These are things that people don't like. But, we are talking about geese." (NY Post).

A member of the Board of Trustees agrees the geese are likely being scapegoated, as residents and visitors have complained of '...used condoms, dirty baby diapers and worse' in Mamaroneck's water; so why hire anyone who would allow the geese to be hurt or killed?
 
The proposal submitted by Westchester4Geese, under the name 'Westchester Wildlife Mgmt and Advocacy' relies on three basic tenets:  1)  Our methods are far cheaper than Garber's, who is seeking $30,000 of taxpayer monies over a three-year period.  2) The introduction of Geesebusters, an air-borne predator system with guaranteed results and costing a fraction of Garber's program OR the one used by the USDA, and,   3) Grape Kool Aid...  Yes, you read correctly.

Turns out the sweet stuff is  food grade and non-toxic...but hated by geese.  Noted Wildlife rehabilitation expert Paula Young,  who has worked with govt. officials in the Westchester County area, said, �Typically a successful repellent, grape Kool Aid contains methyl anthranilate, the name of the artificial flavoring used in grape bubble gum, grape popsicles, and grape Kool Aid.

It does not harm the geese, but they find it repulsive,� Young states.  �Method of application - the powder is mixed with water and applied to the grass through a dispenser usually used for fertilizers. Applied weekly, it works very very well.  Purchased in bulk, as Kool-Aid, it is not expensive.  It works.   And since the village has park workers involved with care of the greens, there should be very little extra cost. �
 
Kiley Blackman, author of the proposal submitted to Mamaroneck, said, 'All municipalities should choose the most cost-efficient, non-lethal, humane method of living with their wildlife.   This individual told the NY TIMES,  'I don�t like gassing the geese. Never have. I prefer faster, calmer, more painless methods. The fastest is the best. I don�t care how messy or unpopular the method, as much as I care about letting the geese and their goslings die in the most humane way possible.  I would tell you specifically how I would have my employees do this, but why upset goose huggers more than is absolutely necessary?  There are more goose huggers out there than Canada geese, and sometimes I wonder who presents the bigger problem.'  After seeing the 'Hit them with sticks, throw rocks at them' comment, a blogger replied,  "Did a goose rape and murder this guy's family?"  Garber omitted his quotes in his Mamk proposal; but the geese have committed no crime -  they are our, intelligent beautiful birds and must be treated with kindness and respect - as should those trying to protect them and afford them decent treatment.   What kind of lesson are we teaching our children -  'If you have a situation, just kill it' ?   I was glad Mamk is turning away from the USDA slaughter route...but Garber is incredibly expensive and ultimately proposes a slaughter as well - neither of which are qualities govt. officials should spend taxpayers' hard-earned money on.'