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Duck hunts go smoothly at parks
A Pittsburgh-based animal advocacy group, Voices for Animal Liberation, had threatened to be out in force yesterday morning to protest the hunts that are aimed at controlling the geese populations in the Westmoreland County-run facilities. Only "two or three" protesters showed up at about 6 a.m. at Twin Lakes, however, according to county parks police Chief Dennis Genard.
"They must have camped overnight back in the woods out there and then came out at about 6 a.m. and tried to chase the geese away (before the hunt)," Genard said.
The demonstrators were given summary citations for trespassing by police, and the hunts continued as scheduled until 9 a.m., he said. The protesters were cited for trespassing because the park does not open to the public until 9 a.m.
Several hunters leaving the park yesterday morning carrying their quarry were unaware of the protest when questioned by a reporter.
Local animal rights activist P.J. McKosky was critical of the hunt because the geese are tame as a result of being fed by park visitors year-round.
"This hunt is more like shooting fish in a barrel. These animals are tame and trusting of humans," he said. "The Westmoreland County Parks Department should be ashamed of themselves for allowing it."
The 20 hunters registered for the Twin Lakes hunt bagged about 25 geese "out of a population of over 250," Genard said.
The hunts have been held for years at other county parks, including Chestnut Ridge, Bridgeport Dam and Mammoth, county officials said.
In each park, hunters may hunt in the designated safe areas that adjoin the lakes. Genard also noted that deer hunting has been permitted at Twin Lakes.
The special hunting dates will continue from one-half hour before dawn until 9 a.m. for registered hunters at Twin Lakes and Northmoreland again today and Thursday, and Sept. 16, 17 and 18.
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