Madison Lefties Say Democracy Died With the Geese

Somehow, liberal Mayor Paul Soglin of Madison, Wisconsin is still too conservative for some. The Capital Times reports there will be a protest (or a "memorial service for fallen fowl")  tomorrow to denounce the city's unannounced Canada goose roundup. Leftist animal advocates said democracy died with the geese:

"This is a chance for us to get together and mourn the loss to the community not only of the geese, but of the democratic process. We want to know the mayor and the Parks Commission know that we're not going to go away," says Kathie Free of Madison, an organizer of the protest that will include members of the Alliance for Animals and other animal rights groups...

Free and others say the kill was done without adequate notice. One evening the geese were there; the next morning they were gone from Vilas, Olin Turville and Brittingham parks and from public shoreline along Wingra Creek.

Madison parks officials approved the goose kill, at a cost not to exceed $4,900, on May 11. Keeping the precise details of the kill quiet was intentional, Wallner says. "It was done at five in morning because they didn't want people out to scare off the geese," he says. "Was it transparent? Not totally. The city did not want publicity."

That approach makes sense to ensure a successful roundup once it was decided that some geese would have to be removed, Wallner says. And while the public meetings on goose control were dominated by people opposed to killing them, many other city residents were calling for effective action, he says.

"I heard from many, many citizens saying the geese have gotten out of control. They were tired of kids getting covered with goose poo at soccer. Folks could see the parks being diminished and the beaches being soiled," Wallner said. City-county public health officials say goose feces contributes significantly to the closing of city beaches because of bacterial contamination.

Some citizens seem to have their minds made up already about the fallout of the kill. "I really feel betrayed," says Free, who added that she worked as a volunteer on Soglin's campaign. "It's needless carnage in our parks, and that shouldn't be happening in a city like Madison."

In  a separate story  the Capital Times added the geese were "taken to a meat processor and turned into gooseburgers for area food pantries." [Hat tip: Vicki McKenna.]

Earlier on the animal front: Alliance for Animals protests pig wrestling at Wild West Days

N.Y Times Prefers Geese to Human Fliers' Safety?