Without public warning and without trying alternative methods
first, the federal government recently killed at least 300
crows in a Washington D.C. suburb as part of a much-maligned
attempt to "manage" conflicts with these birds who have
migrated to large cities.
For the second year in a row, the United States Department
of Agriculture's Wildlife Services has poisoned hundreds of the
urban birds in Northern Virginia, just outside the Washington,
D.C. line, where roosts of as many as 10,000 crows have taken
up residence.
The government's weapon of choice is Starlicide (DRC-1339),
which is applied to corn scattered throughout the roosting
area. Starlicide is a slow-acting avian poison that can take as
long as three days to kill a bird the size of a crow. Death
eventually comes by massive liver and/or kidney failure.
Wildlife Services says that birds do not suffer, but this
claim appears to be based only on the observation that the
birds die "quietly." On the contrary, The HSUS notes,
veterinarians have gone on record to assert that significant
suffering is indeed involved with the application of
Starlicide, which causes birds to experience a severe and
painful sickness that—as the manufacturer describes—is
manifested as listlessness and inactivity.
Wildlife Services also claims that no other species are
exposed to, or succumb to, the baits. However, agency officials
have not allowed access to the data they have collected
concerning "non-target" animal deaths, nor do they notify the
public when an area has been, or will be, treated with
poison.
In its assessment of the ecological effects of Starlicide,
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has stated that the
risk of death for non-target bird populations is high. And
mammals who eat Starlicide-laced bait—or eat other animals who
have—may also suffer ill effects or even die, particularly in
areas with high application rates.
As the Crow Flies
In the last three decades, the roosting patterns of crows
have shifted dramatically. Large numbers of crows now choose to
roost in urban and suburban areas, rather than out in the
country, as they have historically. Why crows have changed
their habits remains to be determined. One theory suggests that
these birds prefer the warmth of cities, which typically have
higher temperatures than rural areas due to the "heat island"
effect, a phenomenon attributed to a lack of cooling vegetation
and a preponderance of heat-absorbing asphalt and concrete.
Regardless of why the birds have shifted roosting sites,
Wildlife Services specifically targets crows after they have
settled into their winter urban roosts, which makes them easier
to kill.
That questionable practice aside, animal protection groups
are also scratching their heads over why Wildlife Services
hasn't used non-lethal strategies such as fogging repellents,
special lasers, pyrotechnics, habitat modification, and
recorded bird distress calls, all of which can effectively and
humanely disperse crow roosts. The agency uses these methods
exclusively in other states. Why officials have not tried them
in Virginia first—which would have been consistent with the
agency's claim of practicing non-lethal methods whenever
possible—remains a mystery.
A Matter of Inconvenience or a
Real Threat?
So why has Wildlife Services launched this crow-killing
campaign? Simply put, the birds may inconvenience some people,
who object to the birds' droppings and noise. To justify mass
poisonings, the agency has cited possible damage to automobile
paint or the chance that people might slip on droppings.
Wildlife Services also claims that the birds are a potential
"public health threat," since the fungal disease histoplasmosis
has been associated with soils enriched by large quantities of
bird or bat droppings. However, as with all situations where
human health is at risk, The HSUS recommends that public health
professionals make determinations about human health and
safety, not those who serve to gain monetarily from
implementing wildlife control programs. Wildlife Services,
after all, routinely contracts with entities, whether a city or
a property management group, to supply its lethal services.
It's unclear what kind of process Wildlife Services went
through to deem the situation a potential public health threat.
In the best of all possible situations, the agency should work
with local public health officials, test soil samples, and then
notify the public about the results. The HSUS has been unable
to determine if any of this happened in Northern Virginia,
mostly because Wildlife Services doesn't share information with
the public or outside organizations.
The HSUS does know, however, that the ideal conditions for
the transmission of histoplasmosis are when it is dry and
arid—when fecal matter can turn to dust and become
airborne.
Public Outrage
Many Northern Virginian residents are outraged—not only
because wild birds, who are part of their neighborhood's
natural community, are being killed by a federal agency, but
also because they were not informed about the poisoning until
they discovered dead or dying crows.
What's more, Wildlife Services has ignored repeated and
specific inquiries for information about its crow "management"
plan in Northern Virginia. Last fall, The HSUS specifically
requested that the agency notify communities of its plans to
poison birds, and to inform and involve residents in the
process.
In an apparent response, citizens inquiring about the
program were sent—under government frank and paid for by
taxpayers—a copy of a series that ran in The Sacramento
Bee. The theme of this series was that environmental
organizations (The HSUS and other animal protection
organizations were not mentioned) have "cashed in" on their
traditions and have become more like the businesses they
oppose.
"Not only do these articles have nothing whatsoever to do
with the poisoning of crows in Virginia," says John Hadidian,
Ph.D, director of The HSUS Urban Wildlife Program, "they also
appear to represent an antagonistic philosophy within the
Virginia office of Wildlife Services toward environmental and
animal protection groups."
Local governmental agencies in Virginia have been involved
in the crow poisonings—but only to the extent that they are
informed shortly before killing begins. They do not control
these activities and have been very reluctant to publicize even
the short advance notice.
One employee of such an agency—who asked not to be
identified for fear of being fired—informed The HSUS that
employees were expressly told not to tell animal protection
organizations about the imminent crow poisonings, and to tell
the public as little as possible, other than to reassure them
that the poisoning was safe.
Safe for whom? Certainly not the crows.
What You Can Do
Call and/or write your U.S. Representative and Senators and
ask them to oppose Wildlife Services's killing of wild animals
merely because people find them inconvenient.
You should also contact the Wildlife Services Regional
Director and tell him to stop the killings. Write to:
Charles Brown
Wildlife Services Regional Director
920 Main Campus Dr.
Suite 200
Raleigh, NC 27606
Or call him at 919-716-5632.
Send a copy of your correspondence to:
Bill Clay
Deputy Administrator
Wildlife Services
1400 Independence Ave., SW
Room 1024 South
Washington, DC 20250-3402
Or call him at 202-720-2054.
