CritterChatter™ Blog
Reward offered in NJ slaughter of geese and ducks
MOUNT LAUREL, N.J. - July 16, 2010 (WPVI) -- The Humane Society says it is offering a reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever is responsible for beating and killing 18 Canada geese and wild ducks in Mount Laurel, N.J.
The birds were found early Sunday morning at a retention pond off Nixon Drive at East Gate Square by Moorestown.
Chris Cramer took pictures of the dead and dying birds.
"I saw they had been shot in the head, they'd been run up against the fence, looked like they had been kicked to death or their necks had been broken," Cramer said.
On Monday, in what's believed to be an unrelated incident, at least half a dozen more dead or dying geese were found at the same site, but with no signs of trauma.
Health officials say these deaths may be related to botulism in the stagnant water.
"The excessive heat, we get a bacterial count in the water and geese ingest the water and eventually it just kills their immune system," said John Depersia of the Burlington County Health Department.
Last month, in a controvevrsial move, the township okayed the euthanization of 133 geese that were been fouling the grounds at a local park. Animal rights activists are wondering if this weekend's attacks are the work of some anti-geese locals who want the messy birds out of town
Police say they have not witnesses so far, but want anyone who saw anything betwee 8:00 p.m. Saturday and 8:00 a.m. Sunday to call them at (856) 234-1577
Credits: abclocal.go.com
