Protesters Hold 'Vigil' At Islip High School For Killed Geese

ISLIP, NY —On Wednesday morning, a group of animal rights protesters organized a "vigil" at Islip High School after Canada geese were rounded up and killed at the school.

According to Long Island Orchestrating for Nature (LION), the group that organized the protest, members of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services were contracted to cull geese at the school on July 1.

"The geese were at their most vulnerable, when they were molting their flight feathers and therefore unable to fly away. Kind people are rightly horrified that their hard-earned tax-dollars, meant for education, have been paying federal contract killers to massacre an untold number of gentle, vulnerable geese in district-sanctioned killings year after year and LION is committed to ensuring this never happens again," the group posted on Facebook.

Some of the advocates are calling for nonlethal management of the Canada geese population, like birth control, chemical repellents or the use of dogs.

LION says they have attained a "commitment" from Islip Superintendent Dennis O'Hara to enact a moratorium on the killing of geese on school grounds, and that the district will work with LION on an alternative plan.

After the 11:45 a.m. vigil, a dozen Canada geese were visible walking across the school grounds.

What do you think about the culling of Canada geese on school property? Do you support lethal or other types of management? Tell us in the comments.