WASHINGTON —In a letter sent Wednesday to United Illuminating Company, The Humane Society of the United States is encouraging the company to develop a long-term humane plan  for dealing with the monk parrots who have been nesting on the company's utility poles. Earlier this week, the power company told a Connecticut Superior Court judge that more than 100 nests will still be removed from the poles yet no more birds will be euthanized this month.

The HSUS offered to work with UI in creating an innovative non-lethal strategy to discourage the monk parakeets from nesting on the poles, which, according to the company, can create a fire hazard and electricity blackouts. To date, UI's approach, which started last month, had been to remove the birds from their nest then turn them over to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which used carbon dioxide to kill the birds. The 6-week program was to cost $125,000 and would have meant the deaths of thousands of monk parrots..

"Without implementing a more permanent, exclusion-based solution, UI will find that other birds will soon replace those removed, and the killing program will be on the table again and again," wrote Laura J. Simon, field director of The HSUS Urban Wildlife Program. "Lethal control programs are not only quite costly from the outset but involve a continuing and significant outlay of funds."

The HSUS supports the creation of a long-term plan which would effectively dissuade the birds from taking up residence on the utility poles. The HSUS encourages UI to set the standard for other companies to follow. To view the letter to Nathaniel Woodson, chairman and CEO of United Illuminating Company, contact the HSUS at the number/e-mail below.

For more information on The HSUS Urban Wildlife Programs, go to www.wildneighbors.org.

The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization representing more than 9.4 million members and constituents. The non-profit organization is a mainstream voice for animals, with active programs in companion animals and equine protection, disaster preparedness and response, wildlife and habitat protection, animals in research and farm animal welfare. The HSUS protects all animals through education, investigation, litigation, legislation, advocacy, and field work. The group is based in Washington and has numerous field representatives across the country. On the web at www.hsus.org.