Posted on 07/24/2006 12:00:43 PM PDT by girlangler
PETA asks prosecutor to study fish deaths BY MARIA BARAN News-Democrat
EDWARDSVILLE - A national animal-rights organization petitioned the state's attorney Wednesday to criminally investigate the recent death of several fish after the draining of Leclaire Lake.
Kristin DeJournett, cruelty caseworker for the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, said allowing the fish to suffocate from lack of water constitutes a violation of the Illinois Humane Care for Animals Act, which states, "No person or owner may beat, cruelly treat, torment, starve, overwork or otherwise abuse any animal."
Madison County State's Attorney William Mudge was out of the office Wednesday and would review the letter when he returns, said Stephanee Smith, a spokesman for Mudge.
Historic Leclaire Lake, a victim of erosion and silting, was emptied a couple of weeks ago as part of an ongoing project to reconstruct it and the surrounding park.
Bob Pfieffer, director of Edwardsville Parks and Recreation, said a Southern Illinois University Edwardsville biologist told the city the 20 carp that died as a result of the draining did not belong in the lake.
"Obviously, we were concerned with the wildlife there, otherwise we wouldn't have tried to get them out," Pfieffer said.
Hundreds of fish, including bluegill, largemouth bass, crappie and green sunfish, were removed and taken to another lake in Edwardsville before the drainage.
But a handful of carp remained, stinking up the neighborhood for several days until the city hauled away the remains last week.
Fred Cronin, a fishery biologist with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, helped remove the fish using his electro-shocking boat, which sent electricity in the water causing the fish to swim near the top so they could be scooped up with a net.
"It's probably the best way to go into a body of water and quickly and efficiently collect a good number of the fish that are there," he said.
Like catfish and flounder, carp are categorized as bottom fish that live on or near the bottom of bodies of water.
The Leclaire carp were not purposely separated from the rest of the fish but were probably too deep to feel the shock, Cronin said.
"We weren't able to get everything," he said.
The Natural Resources department will help restock the lake with fish after the sediment is removed by C. Grantham Waste Inc., the contractor awarded the project by the Edwardsville City Council. As a result, the 115-year-old lake will be deepened from 4 feet to 10 feet and house cleaner water. It is scheduled to be completed Sept. 2.
The $200,000 dredging project has been funded in part by grants from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the Madison County Park and Recreation Grants Commission.
In 1979, the Leclaire area was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The lake and park served as a focal point of the industrial community founded by N.O. Nelson in the late 1800s.
Contact reporter Maria Baran at mbaran@bnd.com or 692-9481.
Ping
>>Kristin DeJournett, cruelty caseworker for the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, said allowing the fish to suffocate from lack of water constitutes a violation of the Illinois Humane Care for Animals Act, which states, "No person or owner may beat, cruelly treat, torment, starve, overwork or otherwise abuse any animal."<<
you know.... insects are animals.... that's a pretty darn broad law.
These kooks have way too much time on their hands.
I agree with PETA...what a terrible waste of about a week's worth of fish dinners!
Carp recipes: www.carp.net
Drive-by gang killings?
"Several fish?" Gawd.
No starving them mosquitos or tapeworms!
I think Kristin should feed them Guinea Worms...just don't let them loose where they can get to others not associated with PETA.
IBTFP
(In Before the Fish Puns)
PETA people are animals too! I guess there are already laws against beating them?
"PETA asks prosecutor to study fish deaths"
Result from Study:
It has been detrmined that the deaths of these fish were the result of excessive egg wash, seasoned breading and deep frying.
Crapola!
I've been perching on this thread floundering for puns until I'm wall-eyed.
Mmmmmm, wall-eye!
wonder if oj has an alibi?????
Is it just me, or has society taken a turn for the worst recently?
These kooks go beyond insane.
>> No starving them mosquitos or tapeworms!
I think Kristin should feed them Guinea Worms...just don't let them loose where they can get to others not associated with PETA.<<
President Carter has spent much of the last 20 years trying to kill as many Guinea worms as possible -he should probably stay out of illinois, he might get arrested.
Time for open season on PETA members.
Mount them as trophies just like deer heads!
Hmmmm...There's something fishy about Kristin DeJournett. I think she's a pisces, probably working for scale.
(Apologies to the Firesign Theater)
CARP? Give me a break!
Aaaaaugh! (with a chuckle)
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