Press Releases
From Animal Defenders of Westchester (ADOW)

We advocate on all animal protection and exploitation issues, including experimentation, factory farming, rodeos, breeders and traveling animal acts.

NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Date: October 22, 2026
Contact: Kiley Blackman
[email protected]

Tragedy in NYC Parks: Wildlife Suffers while Volunteers Struggle to Help (PHOTOS)

New York, NY October 22, 2026 - Last year Swanny, one of a mated pair of swans, was slaughtered by a rock-throwing vandal in a NYC park.  Swans mate for life; delighted neighbors enjoyed the lovebirds' serene presence and daily visits - till veterinarians determined the majestic bird suffered extreme head trauma and had to be euthanized.  Before that Swanny had been treated for a wounded foot and wing after being entangled in discarded fishing netting.  A year later, nothing has changed.

Members of several animal advocacy groups met with DEC officials in June of 2025 to discuss the need for the DEC to patrol and fine violators who terrorize birds and dump illegal fishing trash, which injures and kills wildlife in NYC parks.  The DEC promised to step up patrols and enforce NYC park laws. Still nothing has changed.  The DEC's Bureau of Fisheries suggested more signage, despite several already posted and ignored. This same issue was just covered on 1010 WINS.  We also forwarded several on-site reports and photos, provided by wildlife volunteers The Swan Squad and Wild for Prospect Park - the details of which sound like a vision of hell:

"Swans have been repeatedly attacked:  Some men were throwing rocks at the Swans in the park at the Summerhouse Beach near the Ocean Ave and Parkside Ave intersection.  One accused me of "looking at him" and informed everyone around me that "he owned this park and would do whatever he wanted." He then proceeded to threaten me, telling me that "he had an icepick in his pocket, and I was going to get it if I stayed on the beach."  

"There is no outreach by officials:  The only outreach is us going out and having to show people the injured wildlife when they ask what we are doing.    The DEC needs boots on the ground, enforcing, writing fines and educating people.  We never see this.   A major point is when there are injuries or incidents, there is no available outreach number."

"As an injured heron desperately tried to free itself from the hook it swallowed and the line dangling out its mouth down to the water, I saw two kids fishing in this prohibited upper pond right across from the Heron. These kids had seen the "no fishing" sign, ignored it, seen the fence designed to keep out fishermen, and jumped that, and then seen a second sign further in, on an even larger fence, and ignored them as well, to get to where they were. I saw a tangled line and hooked barb in the water not far from them, that had just been cut free to injure wildlife."

"In addition to the prohibited barbed hooks, and the widespread lack of fishing licenses, there are several areas in which fishing is prohibited entirely - these areas are clearly marked with signs in English and in Spanish. They have also fenced off- at considerable costs to the taxpayers of Brooklyn - yet people regularly rip them down, thus destroying city property.'  In five years on the lake, I have never seen a single official from NY State Fish and Wildlife, nor any police officer, nor any park rangers dealing with all the prohibited activity taking place every single day on the lake."

"Anglers themselves feel no obligation to observe the rules and policies, they brag about what they've caught fishing in restricted areas. Signage is irrelevant without proper & consistent enforcement. The only consistent clean up is done by rescue volunteers, not the park, nor the Rangers. Don't tell us viable oversight is being exercised here. What we in the community see on a daily basis tells a very different story."

"The majority are observed using illegal barbed hooks, and leaving them hanging in trees, dangling in the water, or strewn over the ground.  Many wildlife injuries are caused by abandoning fishing line, and using barbed hooks (including treble hooks!), are untreatable because of the severity of the injury or the inability to catch the animal. This causes a lot of needless and preventable suffering, including to the people who enjoy observing the wildlife.  DEC and PP Alliance must start taking the problem seriously. NEEDED: Establishing conspicuous, fully involved visible presence of rangers and PEP, issuing tickets in some cases)."

"DEC, do your job and stop this.  Trashing the park continues unabated.  Perhaps bring all parties to the table to come up with an action plan - including the DEC, police, park officials etc."

Kiley Blackman, representative for Voters for Animal Rights  said, "Where is the DEC?  Bullies and vandals need to be stopped; those who harm animals are likely to also harm people.  Humane Education, which teaches children to have respect and kindness for people and animals, is mandated to be taught to grade schools in NYS - but schools aren't teaching it.  Courts don't penalize criminal behavior either; but cases involving silent victims like children and animals especially cry out for justice.  And rather than protecting our wildlife, the DEC and its ancillary Bureau of Wildlife's focus is on making money by selling more and more hunting licenses, guaranteeing a lethal outcome for animals that deserve to live in peace.   But our magnificent wildlife, and the volunteers who work to protect them, deserve better."

(Photos by The Swan Squad and Wild for Prospect Park)

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