PETA Urges Officials to Pull Deadly Netting From Bridge Immediately

Group Rallies Its Supporters to Call for Removal of Netting on Petaluma River Bridge That Has Reportedly Killed Dozens of Cliff Swallows

For Immediate Release:
April 15, 2013

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

Petaluma, Calif. — Netting on the Petaluma River Bridge—reportedly installed by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and construction company C.C. Myers in an effort to deter a colony of cliff swallows who have nested there for decades—has reportedly killed dozens of birds who have become entangled in the netting and died from dehydration, stress, and exposure. Some trapped birds are even being attacked by crows. Although PETA has informed Caltrans and C.C. Myers of humane nesting deterrents and urged law-enforcement officials to take immediate action to save the birds’ lives, the netting remains in place and video footage shows that birds are continuing to become trapped.

PETA has now posted an action alert on its popular website encouraging supporters to contact Caltrans, C.C. Myers, and state and federal law-enforcement authorities and urge them to remove the netting immediately.

“Every day that this netting remains in place is one more day that federally protected birds face slow, agonizing deaths,” says PETA Vice President Daphna Nachminovitch. “PETA is urging officials to tear this netting down immediately.”

On Sunday, concerned local citizens held a protest near the bridge, which is located on Highway 101, with signs reading, “Caltrans: Take Down the Nets.” Safe nesting deterrents include Teflon sheeting, which prevents nesting because its surface is too slick for the swallows’ mud nests to stick to.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.