Citizens for the Preservation of Wildlife, Inc.

Waterfowl Rescue, Rehabilitate, and Release

ACTIONS AND ALERTS:      

OFFICIALS AIM TO KILL CANADA GEESE:
Officials at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge on Maryland's Eastern Shore hope the federal government will approve plans to kill thousands of Canada Geese.  The geese are descendents of geese released a half century ago.
 
Blackwater officials expect to begin killing thousands of Canada Geese in about two weeks, but are waiting for the US Fish and Wildlife Service to approve a permit to kill. 

PLEASE CONTACT KEITH WEAVER, THE ASSISTANT REFUGE MANAGER AND  REQUEST THAT THE CANADA GEESE NOT BE KILLED, AND EXPRESS YOUR FEELINGS ABOUT THE KILLING OF WILDLIFE ON PUBLIC LANDS WHICH IS FUNDED AS A REFUGE.

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE SLAUGHTERS CANADA GEESE DESPITE FEDERAL COURT ORDER:
Despite a recent federal court order (July 6, 1999) halting the proposed slaughters of Canada Geese at 21 sites and over 3000 geese in Virginia, officials have already rounded up and killed 189 Canada Geese, which are protected by federal law.  Langley Air Force Base is in direct contravention of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA).  On July 15, 1999, officials at Langley Air Force Base authorized and carried out the capture and killing of 189 Canada Geese and their goslings.  Reports indicate that a group of 15-20 military and civilian personnel carried out the illegal round up 189 geese early in the morning.  The round up was authorized by the 1st Fighter Wing's safety office.  The geese were slaughtered later that day for proposed distribution to the needy at a processing plant in Charles City County. 

Dr. John Grandy, HSUS Senior Vice-president for Wildlife and Habitat Protection, said, "We are outraged by this blatant disregard of a federal court ruling and the United States justice system. Langley officials certainly knew that they were required by federal law to seek a permit and that governing the protection of migratory birds.  We are investigating the circumstances surrounding the round up and weighing our legal options in this case."

On July 6, 1999, U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ruled on a lawsuit brought by the Humane Society of the United States, Citizens for the Preservation of Wildlife, Inc., and the Animal Protection Institute, which held that federal agencies, including the Air Force, are not exempt from the requirements of the MBTA.  Before any agency can kill migratory birds, the must first obtain a permit from the US Fish and Wildlife Service.  Langley AFB officials admit that they did not apply for the required permit before they rounded up and killed almost 200 Canada Geese.

The Citizens for the Preservation of Wildlife, Inc. has been very busy.   Here are a few of our projects:

Ongoing Activities:

Petition Drive to stop the annual killing of Canada geese.

Petition Drive to stop Whitetail Deer hunts.

Meeting with local property owners with Canada Goose issues to provide technical support.

Provided training for members and volunteers of the Wildlife Rescue League on Canada Goose rescues, rehabilitation, and identifying vocal and body communication of Canada geese.

CPW and Action for Animals Network organized a committee of Fairfax County residents, local animal welfare groups, and local representatives to design a long term deer management plan for Fairfax County to submit to Fairfax Board of Supervisors.

Designing a Vegetation Modification Brochure for Storm Water Management Ponds (SWM) to submit to Fairfax County Board of Supervisors

Membership Drive (see About CPW)

Court Case: CPW with HSUS and Animal Protection Institute were victorious in taking the USDA to court to receive a Temporary Restraining Order to stop the slaughters. The ruling by Judge Kollar-Kotelly demonstrates how federal agencies have been defying federal and international law by planning and carrying out the slaughter of migratory birds.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, thanks very much to the efforts of Supervisor Elaine McConnell, voted on a CPW representative to join the Fairfax County Integrated Deer Management Committee.   CPW representatives met with numerous Board of Supervisors last fall to attempt to stop the managed deer kills in the county. We were unfortunately out-voted on this issue but will continue the fight.

 CPW has implemented its new wildlife program, called "Wildlife ER Teams.  ER stands for "Emergency Response."  CPW gets an average of 200 wildlife related calls a month, mostly waterfowl injuries.  We need volunteers to assist with rescues, so if interested, please contact us at: 571-201-5366.  Our state licensed wildlife rehabilitator (Robin McClary), provides training on medical emergency responses and treatment, how to safely rescue waterfowl, and the nature of waterfowl.