Oh, boy! The town of Peapack-Gladstone has come up with an innovative idea to get rid of the Canada Geese that are waddling about Liberty Park: -- euthanize them. That’s the polite word for kill them. God know, they are a bit messy, not having been toilet trained, and they do seem to multiply (that’s what geese and other animals do).
So the town’s idea is to round them up while they are molting and cannot fly, including the goslings into a truck and shoot carbon dioxide into the trucks – it takes about 30 minutes of agony before they actually die – sort of an Auschwitz on wheels.
Thankfully, there is opposition to the town’s attempt to rid itself of geese. Like other flora and fauna, they were there first. We’ve already destroyed their natural habitat so let’s destroy them as well. What a wonderful idea, think the property owners, but how utterly disgusting. But got to keep those inflated property values up.
Prayer for the Day
You have measured heights and depths in the hollow of your hand,
Creating all that we see and all that we cannot see;
Although we cry out to you, O God, that your creation is holy,
Our actions belie our words as we destroy your creatures.
Grant us the grace to acknowledge our failure
Restoring us to health through caring for every living thing.,
In the name of the One who cares for all creation,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
We need to educate three groups: the public, the wildlife management agencies, and the geese.
John Haddian, Humane Society Wildlife Management
Canada geese are an integral part of America’s wildlife, and because of shortsighted relocation programs and habitat destruction, we have made them a fixture of urban life as well.
PETA, “Humane Goose Control Situations”
You make springs gush forth in the valleys; they flow between the hills,
Giving drink to every wild animal; the wild asses quench their thirst.
By the streams the birds of the air have their habitation; they sing among the branches.
From your lofty abode you water the mountains; the earth is satisfied with your work.
Psalm 104: 10-13