City Council Allows Geese a Stay of Execution | Eastern NC Now

    Publisher's note: Below is a thumbnail sketch of what occurred in the City Council Chambers here in Washington, Monday, April 13, 2015 supplied by participant Derik Davis.

    The Washington City Council took swift action to distance themselves from a plan to euthanize up to 50 Canadian Geese in the Jack's Creek and Veteran's Park area of the city.

    About 20 people spoke and all were opposed to the plan to remove and kill the geese. Among the speakers were residents and professionals in the Washington area. In response to repeated claims by city officials that the geese posed a "public health risk", Dr. Richard Young, a local internist, stated " In 30 years of practice, I have never stitched someone up from a goose attack nor have I treated a single infectious disease that came from a goose".
Canadian Geese fly by the trestle over the Pamlico at dusk: Above.     photo by Stan Deatherage     Click on image to expand.
    I am a resident of Charlotte Street, and stated to the councilmen that the geese "should be left alone", and we should allow the community to continue to enjoy the waterfowl that are a huge part of our town.

    After hearing almost two hours of debate the city council by unanimous vote agreed to leave the geese alone and move on from this issue. This vote was met with much applause from those assembled.

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