For Immediate Release - November 3, 1999

 

Animal Alliance denounces Chatham's plan to slaughter 30,000 crows.

 

Animal Alliance of Canada denounces the decision by the City of Chatham-Kent to "rid itself" of a flock of 30,000 crows by having police officers and local hunters shoot them.

"This is simply an unacceptable way to deal with any human wildlife conflict." said Barry MacKay, Director for Animal Alliance of Canada and well known naturalist.

"The Mayor of Chatham-Kent, like other elected officials, have demonized the crows by calling them rag-tag and winged scavengers, in order to justify the killing." said Mr. MacKay. "Even more troubling is that killing the crows will not result a long term solution. As long as there are attractants, the birds will continue to return to the site."

"There are solutions to these sorts of conflicts. We have found that more compassionate communities have managed to address the problem without resorting to such extreme measures."

Recommendations::

Animal Alliance urges Chatham-Kent Council to:
    1. Rescind its decision to shoot the crows;
    2. Determine what is attracting the crows and make every effort to reduce or eliminate those attractants;
    3. Approach other municipalities that have handled similar situations in a non-lethal manner;
    4. Establish a city policy to use non-lethal solutions in dealing with human-animal conflict issues; and
    5. Teach a tolerance and celebration of wildlife in the City as the sign of a healthy environment.

 
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