A Long Island individual is suspected of intentionally and repeatedly running over geese, and officials have offered a $7,500 reward for information that leads to the person's arrest. There have been multiple instances this month of geese being intentionally struck by a vehicle in the affluent Hauppauge area of central Long Island, according to the Suffolk County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).
Incidents Occur at Night
All of the reported instances have taken place at night, between the hours of 9pm and 10pm, the Suffolk County SPCA said. The first incident took place on April 4 around 10pm, and the second incident, which was captured on a surveillance camera, occurred on April 15 around 9.50pm. A third instance that was not captured on camera also took place later that night.
Surveillance Video Shows Disturbing Scene
In the video, which was shared by the Suffolk County SPCA on Facebook, a vehicle that appears to be a white Jeep Grand Cherokee can be seen zooming down a road where five geese were crossing. The car struck three of the birds, after which they could be seen lying motionless on the pavement. The driver then doubled back and slowly approached the dead geese, seemingly making sure they were dead, before driving around them, making a three-point turn and taking off.
The Suffolk County SPCA said that those actions indicated 'intentional and repeated acts of cruelty.' A person from Long Island is suspected of intentionally and repeatedly running over geese in the Hauppauge area. The individual's car is pictured just before running over three geese. The car appears to be a white Jeep Grand Cherokee. The moment the driver ran over the geese on April 15 around 9.50pm is pictured. Two of the five geese that were crossing were not struck and killed. The Suffolk County SPCA said that later on the same night, two more geese were run over on the same road.
Animal Cruelty is a Serious Crime
The organization added that later on the same night, two additional geese were also intentionally struck by a vehicle and killed further down the same road. 'Animal cruelty is a serious crime,' the Suffolk County SPCA said before asking 'anyone who witnesses or suspects abuse to report it immediately.' The organization requested that anyone with information about the suspected goose killer call (631) 382-7722 and that 'all calls will be kept confidential.'
Legal Consequences
Canada geese are by far the most common kind of geese in New York, making it likely that it was the species struck by the driver. Killing them is a violation of the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 and punishable by up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $15,000. Intentionally killing any animal in New York is also a violation of state animal cruelty laws and is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. The driver doubled back, seemingly to ensure that the geese were dead. The Suffolk County SPCA said that indicated 'intentional and repeated acts of cruelty.' After making sure the geese were dead, the driver drove around them and took off. A $7,500 reward has been offered for any information that leads to the person's arrest.
The repeated nature of the goose killer's crimes and their violation of potentially both federal and state laws would likely mean that if caught and found guilty, the person would likely receive a sentence on the more severe end of those punishments. The Suffolk County SPCA initially offered a $2,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of whoever has been mowing down geese this month. The total reward was raised to $7,500 on Tuesday after the New York State Humane Association also pledged $1,000, Humane Long Island $1,000, In Defense of Animals $2,500 and Strong Island Rescue $1,000.
