Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
More Geese Headed To The Gas Chamber
By
Jen Carlson
Published Jul 23, 2010
Modified Jul 23, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Carlson
Published Jul 23, 2010
Modified Jul 23, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Following the recent euthanization of around 290 Canada geese in Prospect Park, a nine-page report shows the city's overall goal to thin down the population by 2/3, meaning that around 170,000 geese will be sent to the gas chamber.
According to CityRoom, who obtained the report, the plan being put forth by the United States Department of Agriculture was a result of meetings that took place following the crash of US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River, which occurred after geese hit the jet's engines.
At the meetings, officials from the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, the National Park Service and members from Mayor Bloomberg’s office asked the department how many goose strikes have occurred in New York, and that answer is 78 in 10 years, causing $2.2MM in aircraft damage. The parties all agreed to the plan, which in the end would have the captured geese placed in commercial turkey crates, euthanized, and buried.
Back in 2009 when the NY Post told the city to "Pluck 'Em!", Wildlife biologist Steve Garber told them the options of thinning out the population. He said the geese could be relocated, or killed for meat donated to shelters—he also added that shooting them, shaking their eggs, wrecking their nests, throwing rocks at them and hitting them with sticks would also work.
Tagged
canada geese
department of agriculture
euthanization
geese
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
ICE agent shoots, injures immigrant man in NYC's Marble Hill, DHS says
The agency says the man is alive and hospitalized.
By
Giulia Heyward
and
Arya Sundaram
Published Oct 8, 2026 at 5:33 p.m. ET
Modified Oct 8, 2026 at 11:20 p.m. ET
Lazy drivers in Prospect Heights lose chance for 1 less day of alternate-side parking
A pilot found that drivers actually complied with alternate-side less when fewer days were in effect.
By
Liam Quigley
News
Lazy drivers in Prospect Heights lose chance for 1 less day of alternate-side parking
A pilot found that drivers actually complied with alternate-side less when fewer days were in effect.
By
Liam Quigley
Jersey City mayor shakes up staff amid $255M budget gap
By
Michael Sol Warren
Bronx residents will be exempt from new Medicaid work rule, state officials say
By
Caroline Lewis
MTA chair accuses Andy Byford, who's leading Penn Station rebuild, of going 'full MAGA'
By
Stephen Nessen
and
Carol Chen
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .