BLOOMSBURG, Penn. (May 24, 2022) — In Defense of Animals, Save the Geese Bloomsburg, and outraged Bloomsburg residents protested Bloomsburg Town Council’s plan to brutally kill 40 Canada geese and goslings who live at Bloomsburg Town Park. The demonstration was held on Sunday, May 22, in front of city hall. Despite the heat, 15 dedicated protesters held signs and chanted, “Save the geese! Let them live in peace!” The protest was reported by WBRE/WYOU and WNEP. 

"Geese are trapped when they're caring for their babies and molting so they cannot fly away," said Fleur Dawes, Communications Director for In Defense of Animals. "Gassing them is very violent and painful, and sends a terrible message to children who love interacting with the geese. Residents enjoy mental health benefits from being around these birds and many are strongly opposed to any goose killing. Killing geese isn't a solution, it's a money pit that must be filled each year. It's time for Bloomsburg to reverse this massive waste of taxpayer dollars and commit to peaceful coexistence with our animal members of our community."

The Bloomsburg Town Council may contract with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services to kill 40 geese due to complaints of goose poop. Killing geese and their goslings always involves animal cruelty. Geese and goslings are trapped when they are most vulnerable when they have babies and are molting, so they cannot fly. They are often placed in mobile gas chambers, a particularly cruel and painful method of killing high-flying migratory birds whose bodies are adapted for dramatic differences in air pressure. The gassing process simultaneously burns and freezes their lungs for up to 45 minutes before they die in agony.

Goose massacres are repeated annually because they are a temporary solution. When geese are trapped and killed, new geese quickly repopulate the same area since they are attracted to plentiful resources of food, water, and shelter. Non-lethal strategies such as landscape modifications and changes in human behavior provide a permanent, effective, long-term solution that doesn’t involve animal cruelty.

On April 11, the Bloomsburg Town Council approved costs of up to $3,000 to kill geese. However, Bloomsburg residents don't want their tax dollars spent massacring geese and their families. Residents are urging the Bloomsburg Town Council to remove lethal methods from the plan and commit to nonlethal goose stewardship strategies that focus on accountable, transparent processes and public engagement.

“Bloomsburg Town Council has approved a USDA slaughter of the Canada geese in our town parks. Taxpayers, surrounding community members, and individuals from all over the country have made it clear that they do not support and do not want this,” said Lynn Schaeffer of Save the Bloomsburg Geese. “We are asking Mayor Hummel and the Bloomsburg Town Council to remove the killing of geese as an option and only practice nonlethal management strategies. Bloomsburg is our home and theirs too!”

In Defense of Animals joined the Bloomsburg Town Council meeting on April 25, urging council members to cancel the cruel and ineffective goose massacre.

“Bloomsburg residents are devastated that the city plans to kill beloved geese and goslings in their neighborhoods,” said Lisa Levinson, Campaigns Director at In Defense of Animals. “The Bloomsburg Town Council should favor coexistence and compassion over heartless killing. The town can easily purchase a tow and collect machine to consistently clean up goose droppings, which can be processed, packaged, and sold as fertilizer to help fund nonlethal alternatives to killing goose families.”

In Defense of Animals’ National Goose Protection Coalition was formed in 2019 to help concerned citizens stop goose cruelty in their communities. Learn more and find nonlethal goose engagement options at: www.stopgooseabuse.org

To bring local attention to this disturbing situation, In Defense of Animals and Save the Geese Bloomsburg protested the Bloomsburg Town Council’s merciless plan to kill geese and goslings because of their droppings. Members of the public, including children, attended this peaceful demonstration.

Images of the Bloomsburg demonstration to Save the Geese, free for use with credit: https://bit.ly/BloomsburgGoosePix

Images of goose roundups, free for use with credit: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmWfmPKu

Contacts:

In Defense of Animals, Lisa Levinson, lisa@idausa.org, 215-620-2130
Save the Geese Bloomsburg, Lynn Schaeffer, lynnuszal@gmail.com, 570-982-1403
 

In Defense of Animals is an international animal protection organization based in Marin County, California with over 250,000 supporters and a 39-year history of fighting for animals, people, and the environment through education and campaigns, as well as hands-on rescue facilities in India, South Korea, and rural Mississippi. www.idausa.org/geese

Save the Geese Bloomsburg is a group created by community members advocating for the protection and non-lethal control methods of Canada geese at the Bloomsburg Town Park. www.facebook.com/groups/stgbloomsburgpa

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