Re “Geese may get reprieve after all,” January 25, 2013 article

Mayor Miriam Flisser of Scarsdale claims geese droppings are “... a public health issue that needs to be addressed.” We would like to address this falsehood now:

• Wildlife rehabilitators working directly with geese and droppings have reported absolutely no resulting illnesses.

• Fertilizer made from geese droppings is actually superior to chemicals, and is the reason the golf courses look so good.

• Any poop, including human, can conceivably cause problems if ingested. However, the Department of Health has no reported cases of illness from geese droppings.

The fact is, according to the USDA, animal flesh — such as beef, chicken and fish — is statistically the leading cause of food-borne illnesses such as E. coli, listeria, salmonella and mercury poisoning. Is Mayor Flisser prepared to advise her constituents to give up eating meat? If not, intelligent consideration must be applied.

The Village of Scarsdale has been presented with information about Nature Sweep, affordable cleanup equipment that has been used successfully in several other venues without the need to frighten or kill their geese residents. Several Scarsdale grade-school children recently held a “Save the Geese” rally, which urged village officials to reconsider their killing plan. Those little angels, who love and cherish their interaction with wildlife, are the pride of Scarsdale, and we heartily join with their eloquent, inspiring voices.

Kiley Blackman
TuckahoeThe writer is a member of Animal Defenders of Westchester.

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