Peta urges mayor to declare truce in war on waterfowl

[Karmadillo]

http://www.peta.org/mc/NewsItem.asp?id=5704

Group Offers to Help Saltville Develop Nonlethal Control Program

For Immediate Release:
January 12, 2005

Contact:
Stephanie Boyles 757-622-7382

Saltville, Va. — Today, PETA fired off a letter to Saltville Mayor Jeff Campbell, urging him to halt the city’s plans to slaughter Canada geese now living in the community. PETA is offering the assistance of its wildlife biologist in developing a humane waterfowl-control program that everyone can live with—including the birds.

PETA points out that as well as being cruel, catching and killing waterfowl is also wholly ineffective, because as long as conditions in Saltville remain attractive to birds, other birds will move in to fill the void left by those who are killed. PETA and other animal protection organizations, including Geesepeace, have had immense success in humanely resolving clashes between human and goose populations in communities throughout the country. In fact, a nonlethal program implemented by the Lake Barcroft Property Owners Association in Fairfax, Va., was so successful that it has been adopted by municipalities in states all over the country, including Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, and Washington state. Nonlethal waterfowl-management programs include habitat-modification; the use of repellents, fencing, and frightening devices; and reproductive controls such as egg-addling.

"It would be senseless and cruel for Saltville to proceed with plans to massacre the Canada goose population after we’ve offered to solve the problems using nonlethal methods," says PETA Wildlife Biologist Stephanie Boyles. "Saltville’s conflicts with Canada geese are not unique. They can be resolved using techniques that have already proved successful in more than 18 different communities in Virginia. All PETA is asking for is the chance to demonstrate to the residents of Saltville that geese can be controlled without violence."

PETA’s letter to Mayor Jeff Campbell is available upon request. For more information, please visit HelpingWildlife.com.

[electric-eye]

1. Thank you PETA

Thanks.

[smbolisnch]

2. You couldn't just let it die huh? nt

[electric-eye]

3. Ahh, now you're as "guilty" as me

and you asked me a question.

No, I couldn't just let it die.

Its a good thing PETA is doing in the story in this post, and I really felt called say "good job." I'd bet a lot of people who see animals as a commodity and/or nuisance would agree - on this story.

No use to kill the geese if the problem can be solved otherwise.

I hope the mayor listens.

And I thank PETA again for giving a damn, and doing something about it.

This isn't a divisive topic, imho.

[Karmadillo]

4. Not sure why one should let good news from a progressive group

die. For all the grief PETA gets around here, they're able to effectively get their message out and win more than the occasional victory.

[smbolisnch]

5. Of course I agree totally, it just ALWAYS ends in a flame war.

For being a progressive group, the "compassionate" DUers come out of the woodwork on PETA threads. It never fails.

[Karmadillo]

6. Unfortunately, you're right, but

no reason not to post the occasional PETA update. The "compassionate" ones will just have to suffer.