Dozens of defenseless geese are about to be rounded up and slaughtered in an effort to reduce their presence at Crystal Lake Park in Urbana, Ill. The planned massacre, deceptively labeled as a “charity harvest,” could happen as early as next week, when the geese begin their annual feather molt and are unable to fly.
The Urbana Park District Board of Commissioners approved the plan on May 12. Unless this barbaric event is stopped, 80 terrified geese will be crammed into cages and separated from their babies, who will be left traumatized and vulnerable.
Despite claims that the meat from the slaughtered birds will go to food banks, dead geese are typically discarded due to various health risks associated with eating pesticide-poisoned meat and the high costs of testing it for safety. Poultry plants are also not legally permitted to process goose meat during the current COVID-19 restrictions, as it’s classified as a “heightened risk.”
Animal activists are urging the board and the Mayor of Urbana Diane Marlin to cancel the horrifying event. There are humane alternatives available, including habitat restoration, the establishment of a “tolerance zone” for the geese away from human interference, planting taller grass, and hiring workers to clean the unwanted waste.
We can’t let these pleas fall on deaf ears. Locals from Save Crystal Lake Geese have collaborated with In Defense of Animals’ National Goose Protection Coalition to create a petition urging officials to cancel the harvest and consider other, non-lethal population management strategies. Please take a minute to sign it.
We must spare these innocent geese from needless slaughter. Lady Freethinker stands in solidarity with the organizations and activists who are working tirelessly to halt this cruel event before it’s too late.

These geese are a protected species and it’s against the law to harm them!! They can be punished by law for causing any injuries or hurting these birds in any way!! So it MUST BE STOPPED THESE ARE A PROTECTED SPECIES UNDER THE ENVIRONMENTAL ACT!! THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT WILL TAKE OFFENSE TO A BIRD THAT IS NAMED FOR OUR COUNTRY TO BE HARMED IN SUCH A MANOR!! IT MUST STOP!!!
Please, cruelty needs to STOP!
I have had enough with mankind feeling they have the right to murder animals for whatever excuse they have ! Enough is enough ! Mankind themselves have screwed this work up so bad , yet they blame the animals – it’s not the animals at all ! If mankind would stop forcing animals to breed to murder them things would be fine but no mankind is not taught a damn thing when it comes to accountability and responsibility of LIFE ! ALL LIVES MATTER MAN AND ANIMAL! I don’t care if your black , white, brown, Asian, or what the hell you are either treat and respect ALL living things or bottom line is you got no place to be upon this earth ! You are the problem if you allow this behavior to continue and these animals on a daily being murdered and abused !
Animals always get to pay the price! Slaughter away! Shame on you!!! How pathetically horrible you are!
Slughtering innocent animals helps NO ONE!
Slughtering innocent animals helps NO ONE!
Slughtering innocent animals helps NO ONE!