Central Park Goose Rescued; Treated for Lead Poisoning

Ranger as she appeared last week at Central Park's Boat Lake. Now sickly and being treated for lead poisoning at the Wild Bird Fund in New York City. Her prognosis is guarded.

Yesterday, one of the geese at the Central Park Boat Lake appeared ill, underweight and lethargic and was rescued by an observant park goer.  Liliana handed the goose over to a park ranger who then took her to The Wild Bird Fund where "Ranger" is now being tube fed and treated for suspected lead poisoning as her levels are very high.

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Lead poisoning is apparently a common malady affecting many wild and water birds.

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http://wcfcourier.com/lifestyles/lead-poisoning-a-growing-problem-in-birds-waterfowl/article_3f648494-1e34-59b7-bc5e-aa25f8dd3ce7.html

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I share this story because of the nonsense we are constantly being fed by USDA WS and media about "donating geese to food pantries."

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I brought up this issue to Daily News writer, Lisa Colangelo yesterday and also allude to it in yesterday's blog posting.

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http://talesamptailsofnewyork.blogspot.com/2014/07/sgt-peppers-loney-goose-heart-band.html

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As shared earlier, we lost two nesting geese in the spring at CP that showed signs similar to Ranger (lethargy, anorexia, disorientation, loss of weight).  Unfortunately, due to the location of the geese (Reservoir), it was not possible to rescue before they died.  Necropsies were never conducted on the geese to determine what they actually died from, but lead poisoning and malnutrition (from harsh winter) are strong possibilities.  Lead poisoning also may have been a factor in the death of Cago last fall at Harlem Meer.

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Both, Harlem Meer and the Boat Lake are locations of heavy fishing activities at Central Park.  Although the CP Conservancy posts signs forbidding the use of lead fishing tackle at Harlem Meer, no such signs are posted at the Boat Lake.

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It would nearly be laughable to think of "donating" birds for human consumption that have been exposed to high levels of lead, mercury, pesticides and other environmental contaminants, were it not in fact, highly questionable and seemingly irresponsible. 

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That geese are generally feverish and unwell when going through the molt during the early summer weeks makes these so-called, "donations" even more suspect and unfathonable.  Even hunters don't shoot and eat geese when the birds are undergoing their flightless, sickly period.

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This, once again is a rough summer in New York City with regards to our forever maligned and tormented geese, hundreds of whom have already been captured by USDA Wildlife (Extermination) Services and sent for slaughter or gassing with nary a word in the media about it.

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Sadly and inexcusably, the one article appearing in today's Daily News attempts positive spin on the carnage by assuring readers the geese are "usually donated to food pantries."

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Asked of the Daily News journalist yesterday, "Considering the high levels of mercury, lead, environmental contaminants and occasional gun pellets in geese, would you feed them to your children?"

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I never received an answer to that question.

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It is too soon to know if Ranger, the sweet and human-trusting goose now being treated at The Wild Bird Fund for lead poisoning will in fact, survive.

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What should not survive however, are the myriad of excuses that governmental agencies and media "cook up" for both, killing the geese and dumping their ravaged body parts on unsuspecting and impoverished consumers.

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Let it be realized that certain repeated governmental and media phrases like "removal," "euthanasia" and "feeding the hungry" are truly loaded and do much to brainwash and influence people's thinking on an issue.  In some cases, they serve as anesthesia for the public.

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Very strange that it is we, the public that is being "anesthetized" and not the birds actually suffering and being sent in high heat in crammed trucks to their unwarranted deaths.

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And even for those, like Ranger, who survive expanded hunting seasons, rough winters and WS goose slaughters, there are the chemical residues, toxins, lead shot, debris and other pollutants that we continually dump into their environment.

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Its a wonder any of the animals survive at all.  -- PCA

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