Intentionally Poisoned?

" It was raining birds. That's how some folks and frankly New Jersey put it. European starling shown here by the thousands. Falling from the sky on the people's long of their cars and so on. The government says these birds are a threat to chicken and poultry farmers and it turns out that they were intentionally poisoned by the federal government. That's proving little comfort for some of the frightened residents. Joining me now is the mayor of Franklin township Brian Levine mayor good morning -- Good morning quite so I guess is to be a bit bizarre where you've given a heads up that this is happening."

" No we weren't at all the only thing that happened was we got a call. That's -- that they might be some culling of birds just coming into our police which we didn't really know what that meant it consequences -- Basically didn't pay much mind and now what happened next. That was on Friday on Saturday we start getting calls that there's a lot of big bird's. On the lines. It's raining birds so we were kinda wondering what's going on here. Yeah so right so how'd you find out it turns up US government was behind it how did you determine that. After a number of calls and trying to figure out what was going on we're told by the USDA -- we were. Poisoning bird -- first everything you want the starling that you -- hurting farmers. So they poison them. And apparently though there's no harm being metabolize it there's not a harm to people animals or pets. But then I guess they didn't realize. So they say they would read on people's property."

" One of the -- have the birds the birds generally fly around and yeah. I have a -- they thought it that you they would eat it he can have -- ball right where they were right and so what it said what is so we're seeing some of the video of the town what a beautiful what it looked like when they -- at the 5000 birds debt."

" Yes some people had a hundred plus of their lawns in the gutters. On the street on their cars. So it's especially before we knew what was going on it suddenly bizarre sight and it made people a little nervous in their disease is their problem."

" and people got concerned because their pets and in dogs and cats will be dogs and cats they started go after these dead birds in and you know eat them. But they say that that's actually not dangerous for the for the dogs and cats."

" Right -- we're told is that -- they use it that have a life is so. It doesn't it's no longer in the system took an animal -- fit or person touch you -- it's no more dangerous than a normal. Dead animal and also we have. Predators. Rare red holder red shouldered hawk in the area so we're worried is this going to hurt an endangered species but apparently everything is fine except for normal."

" Now know what's the justification just so I understand is that it's as they were -- an area farm. Where they were eating feed that was meant for cattle and chickens. And they were deprecating and feeding -- that's not dead but wait isn't just the one farm where the 5000 birds killed because of one farm."

" I don't know I didn't get an answer to that it would be nice if we got a heads up on the whole thing if we're told eating that. This is what we're doing and these are the potential consequences. In the sky is falling bird yeah up or. That you -- ever going to happen but we got and I think they'd be good if governments. Federal and local can communicate with each -- You have what's up what happens now because any of these homeowners can be forced to personally clean up hundreds of birds that up on other properties and -- That what we did municipality would we found out what happened we said okay we didn't do it but it's incumbent upon us to help out. So we told you when you certainly can clean it up but will give our public works people will bail them to anyone who needs them keep it clean up our pickup -- that. Dead birds. Will help out also open the lines toward Health Department so people can -- any concerns. We put all the information on their website that's got really edit your have a the."

" out even though it was that you're. Was that you are doing merit that this fascinated us and we that's an email since we've been talking about this segment from both things happen in their areas do I guess it's. It's a matter of sort of the hierarchy of animals love people praising her replacing. Livestock and chickens and -- above birds because that they've they've been endangering the lives of life stuff but. Mary very interesting I hope the cleanup goes well and there for you were doing the right thing -- here you're township thanks so much kind of view thanks for being."