Countdown To Geese Slaughter On Rikers Island

On June 25, 2004 NYC Dept. of Correction (DOC) will slaughter 200-250 Canada geese living on Rikers Island. PLEASE SEND YOUR COMMENTS IMMEDIATELY--EVEN IF YOU DO NOT LIVE IN NEW YORK.<p> New York Daily News / Wednesday, June 16, 2004 Geese face doom to clear LaG path, BY LISA L. COLANGELO Letters to the editor: voicers@edit.nydailynews.com *DISCLAIMER: The information in these letters is verified with the original source. I cannot assume responsibility for the accuracy of the information or for the consequences of its use. *Kinship Circle cannot guarantee the validity of email addresses. During a campaign, recipients may change or disable their email addresses. **IF YOU ARE A NEW YORK RESIDENT/TAXPAYER BE SURE TO STATE THIS IN YOUR COMMENTS. <!--break--> <p><u>SAMPLE LETTER FROM KINSHIP CIRCLE</u> </p><p /><p><strong>SAMPLE LETTER FROM KINSHIP CIRCLE / <a title="http://www.kinshipcircle.org" href="http://www.kinshipcircle.org/">http://www.kinshipcircle.org<br /></a>6/16/04--Countdown To Geese Slaughter On Rikers Island<br />1 letter</strong><br /></p><p></p><p>New York Daily News / Wednesday, June 16, 2004<br />Geese face doom to clear LaG path, BY LISA L. COLANGELO</p><p /><p>Letters to the editor:<br /><a href="mailto:voicers@edit.nydailynews.com">voicers@edit.nydailynews.com</a></p><p /><p>*DISCLAIMER: The information in these letters is verified with the original source. I cannot assume responsibility for the accuracy of the information or for the consequences of its use.</p><p /><p>*Kinship Circle cannot guarantee the validity of email addresses. During a campaign, recipients may change or disable their email addresses.</p><p>**IF YOU ARE A NEW YORK RESIDENT/TAXPAYER BE SURE TO STATE THIS IN YOUR COMMENTS.</p><p /><p>===============SAMPLE LETTER===============</p><p /><p>Martin Horn, DOC Commissioner<br />New York City Department of Correction<br />60 Hudson St.<br />New York, NY, 10013<br />ph: 212-266-1212 <br />email: <a href="mailto:mhorn@probation.nyc.gov">mhorn@probation.nyc.gov</a><br />online form: <a href="http://www.nyc.gov/html/mail/html/maildoc.html">http://www.nyc.gov/html/mail/html/maildoc.html</a></p><p /><p>Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg<br />City Hall<br />New York, NY 10007<br />ph: 212-788-3000; fax: 212-788-2460 <br />email: <a href="mailto:mbloomberg@cityhall.nyc.gov">mbloomberg@cityhall.nyc.gov</a><br />online form: <a href="http://nyc.gov/html/mail/html/mayor.html">http://nyc.gov/html/mail/html/mayor.html</a></p><p /><p>Dear Mr. Horn and Mayor Bloomberg:</p><p /><p>I am shocked to learn about the NYC Department of Correction's plan to slaughter an estimated 200-250 Canada geese living on Rikers Island on June 25, 2004. I understand USDA wildlife management specialists are under contract to net and kill the birds, who have been disproportionately linked with aircraft collisions at nearby LaGuardia Airport. </p><p /><p>DOC, Port Authority and the USDA have quietly arranged the extermination without advisement from avian experts or animal protection organizations. I strongly oppose this plan and urge you to resolve geese conflicts in a more humane and reliable manner.</p><p /><p>The facts don't seem to add up. Media reports describe 500 geese, yet a DOC official on Rikers confirms a maximum 200-250 birds. The Port Authority claims Canada geese are an imminent threat to public safety--even though there have only been 16 goose strikes in two decades.</p><p /><p>Moreover, destroying geese is a quick fix that offers no enduring solution. When a significant sector of the flock is removed, new animals migrate in or the population rebounds due to an abundance of food and space. Will Rikers Island become a killing field for geese who return to the area year after year?</p><p /><p>Please pursue non-violent means to reduce flock growth. I encourage you to review the successful use of combined methods such as egg addling, scare devices, repellents and habitat modification in Virginia, Maryland and other states.</p><p /><p>Coexisting peacefully with wildlife requires diligence, creativity and an open mind. Please do not kill these majestic birds who bond in close-knit social groups and mate for life.</p><p /><p>Thank you,</p>

<p>On June 25, 2004 NYC Dept. of Correction (DOC) will slaughter 200-250 Canada geese living on Rikers Island. PLEASE SEND YOUR COMMENTS IMMEDIATELY--EVEN IF YOU DO NOT LIVE IN NEW YORK. </p><p>New York Daily News / Wednesday, June 16, 2004<br /> Geese face doom to clear LaG path, BY LISA L. COLANGELO</p> <p>Letters to the editor:<br /> <a href="mailto:voicers@edit.nydailynews.com">voicers@edit.nydailynews.com</a></p> <p>*DISCLAIMER: The information in these letters is verified with the original source. I cannot assume responsibility for the accuracy of the information or for the consequences of its use.</p> <p>*Kinship Circle cannot guarantee the validity of email addresses. During a campaign, recipients may change or disable their email addresses.</p> <p>**IF YOU ARE A NEW YORK RESIDENT/TAXPAYER BE SURE TO STATE THIS IN YOUR COMMENTS.</p> <!--break--><p><u>SAMPLE LETTER FROM KINSHIP CIRCLE</u> </p> <p></p> <p><strong>SAMPLE LETTER FROM KINSHIP CIRCLE / <a title="http://www.kinshipcircle.org" href="http://www.kinshipcircle.org/">http://www.kinshipcircle.org<br /></a>6/16/04--Countdown To Geese Slaughter On Rikers Island<br />1 letter</strong></p> <p>New York Daily News / Wednesday, June 16, 2004<br />Geese face doom to clear LaG path, BY LISA L. COLANGELO</p> <p></p> <p>Letters to the editor:<br /><a href="mailto:voicers@edit.nydailynews.com">voicers@edit.nydailynews.com</a></p> <p></p> <p>*DISCLAIMER: The information in these letters is verified with the original source. I cannot assume responsibility for the accuracy of the information or for the consequences of its use.</p> <p></p> <p>*Kinship Circle cannot guarantee the validity of email addresses. During a campaign, recipients may change or disable their email addresses.</p> <p>**IF YOU ARE A NEW YORK RESIDENT/TAXPAYER BE SURE TO STATE THIS IN YOUR COMMENTS.</p> <p></p> <p>===============SAMPLE LETTER===============</p> <p></p> <p>Martin Horn, DOC Commissioner<br />New York City Department of Correction<br />60 Hudson St.<br />New York, NY, 10013<br />ph: 212-266-1212 <br />email: <a href="mailto:mhorn@probation.nyc.gov">mhorn@probation.nyc.gov</a><br />online form: <a href="http://www.nyc.gov/html/mail/html/maildoc.html">http://www.nyc.gov/html/mail/html/maildoc.html</a></p> <p></p> <p>Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg<br />City Hall<br />New York, NY 10007<br />ph: 212-788-3000; fax: 212-788-2460 <br />email: <a href="mailto:mbloomberg@cityhall.nyc.gov">mbloomberg@cityhall.nyc.gov</a><br />online form: <a href="http://nyc.gov/html/mail/html/mayor.html">http://nyc.gov/html/mail/html/mayor.html</a></p> <p></p> <p>Dear Mr. Horn and Mayor Bloomberg:</p> <p></p> <p>I am shocked to learn about the NYC Department of Correction's plan to slaughter an estimated 200-250 Canada geese living on Rikers Island on June 25, 2004. I understand USDA wildlife management specialists are under contract to net and kill the birds, who have been disproportionately linked with aircraft collisions at nearby LaGuardia Airport. </p> <p></p> <p>DOC, Port Authority and the USDA have quietly arranged the extermination without advisement from avian experts or animal protection organizations. I strongly oppose this plan and urge you to resolve geese conflicts in a more humane and reliable manner.</p> <p></p> <p>The facts don't seem to add up. Media reports describe 500 geese, yet a DOC official on Rikers confirms a maximum 200-250 birds. The Port Authority claims Canada geese are an imminent threat to public safety--even though there have only been 16 goose strikes in two decades.</p> <p></p> <p>Moreover, destroying geese is a quick fix that offers no enduring solution. When a significant sector of the flock is removed, new animals migrate in or the population rebounds due to an abundance of food and space. Will Rikers Island become a killing field for geese who return to the area year after year?</p> <p></p> <p>Please pursue non-violent means to reduce flock growth. I encourage you to review the successful use of combined methods such as egg addling, scare devices, repellents and habitat modification in Virginia, Maryland and other states.</p> <p></p> <p>Coexisting peacefully with wildlife requires diligence, creativity and an open mind. Please do not kill these majestic birds who bond in close-knit social groups and mate for life.</p> <p></p> <p>Thank you,</p>