Geese To Be Euthanized, Protest Planned At Somerset County Park

PEAPACK-GLADSTONE, NJ — A decision to euthanize Canadian Geese at Liberty Park has prompted concerned residents to host a protest on Saturday in Peapack and Gladstone.

"It is cruel and inhumane to coral these geese in June when they have no flight feathers and use a barbaric gas chamber method to kill them on an on-site truck. This process can take 15- 30 minutes to kill - they are terrified and suffer. This is not the way to deter the geese from the pond," said Jackie Braun, who is organizing the protest.

On March 5, the Borough Council voted to enter into an agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture ASnimsl and Plant Health Inspection Service(APHIS) Wildlife Services(WS) for Canada Goose damage management services.

"With respect to the decision to euthanize the geese, it was not made lightly. I have been on the borough council for the last 6 years. I was also on the council for 12 years beginning in 2001. The geese have been a problem during all of those years," said Council President John Sweeney to Patch.

In 2006, the Council first hired Geese Police with dogs to try and curb invasive population which continues to grow.

Since then, the Council has also tried the use of flashing lights for restless nights, goose nest removal, and spraying a goose repellant.

"The geese have been a challenge to the Borough and we have tried many deterrents over the years," said Councilwoman Jaime Murphy at the March 5 meeting.

The latest contract would include addling the eggs and then during molting the geese would be rounded up and humanely euthanized.

"While no one celebrates the culling, the USDA has represented that carbon dioxide gas is not cruel. Research on birds, as opposed to mammals, indicates that poultry lose consciousness in 21-30 seconds," said Sweeney.

Some residents such as Braun disagree with the Council's approach.

"This area of the Somerset Hills is rich with nature and the beauty of the park is not simply trees and water, but all the life call the area home too," said Braun to Patch. "If the town comes in and gasses the resident flock of under 30, a new flock will take up at the vacant pond. This could be a much larger flock and be a worse situation for the town."

Braun has launched a petition to save the geese and is hosting a protest at Liberty Park on Main Street in Peapack and Gladstone from 1 to 2:15 p.m. on Saturday, April 27. For more information click here.

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