Mamaroneck Geese Formally Pardoned

Mamaroneck geese may have received their long-awaited reprieve from an ill-fated end.

Village of Mamaroneck officials drafted an amendment to the original contract with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that prohibits “any removal of capture of geese during molt or any processing of geese for food, or any killing of geese, pursuant to this Agreement.” The amendment also says that the village will be proceeding with egg oiling as a way of controlling the Canada Geese population.

A copy of the letter that was sent to the USDA, was signed by Village Manager Richard Slingerland on April 12 and Martin Lowey, state director for the USDA, on April 15. The amendment comes a week after village officials said that a written amendment would not be necessary after they informed the USDA not to utilize lethal methods.

“The Board required the village to obtain an amendment to the contract and I did so in order to satisfy the direction of the Board,” said Slingerland, in response to why the village had pursued this option after indicating otherwise.

Westchester4Geese Founder Kiley Blackman said in a press release, “This is a thrilling, extremely happy day for us, and, I believe, for the Village of Mamaroneck as well—the 'Friendly Village,' as their website proclaims them to be.”

Blackman thanked Village of Mamaroneck Board members for their efforts to avoid lethal methods of controlling the goose population.

“I cannot thank these courageous people enough for standing up for what they believed was the right, decent and kind way to proceed with their geese neighbors,” she said.

News of the planned cull of geese in Mamaroneck—several months after the village contracted with the USDA in December of 2012—was met with opposition from animal activists, residents and others who objected to the use of lethal methods to control the goose population.  The slaughter was scheduled to take place during the geese’s molting period in mid-June to late July, when they’re unable to fly. 

USDA officials had said geese would be rounded up and taken to a poultry processing plant for “humane slaughter”; the meat was to be donated to Westchester County food pantries that feed the homeless population. The NY State Health Department recommend consuming no more than two geese per month.

Costs allocated for goose slaughter and processing the original contract will be used to expand the egg oiling program.

Editor's Note: An earlier version of this article stated that the village contracted with the USDA more than a year ago; it was actually December 2012.  The article has been corrected to reflect the change.