Residents urge Bayonne officials to end USDA’s lethal goose control; council says it will review contract
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Summary
Residents told the City Council that USDA wildlife contractors have been gassing Canada geese in Bayonne parks and urged the city to cancel the contract and adopt nonlethal methods; speakers submitted FOIA materials and staff said they would review the documentation and consider alternatives.
Residents at the June 18 Bayonne Municipal Council meeting urged elected officials to cancel a contract that allows USDA Wildlife Services to capture and lethally gas Canada geese in city parks.
Pamela Sturt of the Bridal Protection League of New Jersey told the council she opposed the USDA contract and described the method as inhumane. “They suffocate to death,” Sturt said, adding that other municipalities have switched to habitat modification and nonlethal methods.
Doreen Fragas presented counts she attributed to USDA operations and said the group’s records show 96 geese gassed at Avenue A, 75 at Thomas D. Domenico Park, 40 at Dennis P. Collins Park and 105 at Veterans Park. “From 2020 to 2024, 316 geese have been gassed to death in the city of Bayonne during the molt period,” Fragas said.
Multiple commenters urged the council to cancel the USDA contract, pursue habitat modification or pilot nonlethal programs, and accept assistance from advocates who said they would fund and help implement alternatives.
Council staff and an unnamed council official confirmed the city has received documentation under the Freedom of Information Act that lists Tom Cotter as having signed an agreement with USDA and said the contract was signed on Jan. 16, 2025. A council official told speakers the city itself does not perform gassing and that outside agencies sometimes carry out wildlife control on municipal properties, but pledged to review the FOIA materials and to examine nonlethal options. “I’m gonna try my best,” the official said when asked whether changes could be made for the current year.
Speakers asked for an immediate cancellation and for the city to allow advocates to visit sites and help implement pilot projects. Council members did not vote on the matter at the meeting; staff said they would keep the public record and follow up after review of the submitted materials.
