Letter to the Editor as published on Lohud.com
5 June 2013
Larchmont Mayor Anne McAndrews invited the USDA to provide
“recommendations” for the treatment of Larchmont’s geese. She should
consult with us as well. The USDA “recommends” killing, and when in
Mamaroneck, “advising” that “nothing else works,” yet many communities
here and nationally have successfully used nonlethal management methods
— usually at far less cost.
The USDA kills millions of birds and animals annually. It is
embroiled in several lawsuits and accusations of outrageous cruelty to
animals — is that the kind of organization you want to do business with?
Canada geese are protected by federal law — unless someone wants to kill
them. During the next few weeks we will work with senators to close this
absurd loophole to their “protection.”
Yonkers, Scarsdale, Mamaroneck and North Hempstead turned away from
killing to nonlethal methods, and none turned back. Mamaroneck Mayor
Norman Rosenblum was photographed riding a RayVac cleaning system, which
is reportedly working very well for cleaning goose droppings, with no
slaughter necessary. With neighbors making decent choices, and humane,
less expensive and less controversial choices easily available, killing
is unnecessary.
Join our major Geese and Wildlife Summit on June 20,
from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Scarsdale Library. Several local senators will
attend, and the county will demonstrate the Goosinator, used
successfully by them at Sprain Lake Golf Course — as well as
Geesebusters, used in Scarsdale, the border collie method and much more.
We invite you to attend.
Kiley Blackman
Tuckahoe
The writer is founder of Westchester4Geese.
Editor’s note: The Department of Agriculture has concluded after a
population survey of Canada geese in the village that a culling is not
warranted.
