Destruction of Nesting Birds
On May 13-14, 2024, as part of a parking lot repaving and upgrade project, Market Basket in Milford, NH dredged a half acre of wetland at the entrance to their property.
Market Basket wetland before dredging (Aug 2023)
Created in 1995, the pond was designed to capture rainwater. Over the decades, cattails filled the area and the pond became a wetland nesting site for red-winged blackbirds and grackles.
In May, blackbirds are actively building nests, sitting on eggs, and feeding hatchlings.
Such was the case at Market Basket, where blackbirds were seen flying in and out of the reeds, to and from their nests.
Although the Market Basket store manager and the contractor, Continental Paving, were made aware of the presence of the birds, they proceeded with the dredging anyhow.
After being brushed aside when she expressed concern for the birds to the Market Basket store manager, one determined woman stood with a sign to inform shoppers.
Others joined her, some vowing never to shop at Market Basket again.
Concerned citizen informs shoppers
A knowledgeable Milford resident got involved and immediately sent an urgent alert to the state and federal agencies with jurisdiction over migratory birds asking them to step in and protect the birds.
End of Day 1 (May 13)
By the end of the first day of dredging, more than half the pond was gone and countless blackbird eggs, nestlings, and fledgings had been destroyed.
Adult birds with food and nesting material in their beaks flew about frantically looking for their young.
A red-winged blackbird (circled) searches where his nest used to be.
Day 2 (May 14)
On the second day of the dredging project, we returned, with hope that the agencies charged with protecting birds would intervene.
Instead, we watched helplessly as the massive digger destroyed the rest of the habitat.
As the excavator advanced relentlessly, we watched as adult birds, having waited as long as they could, finally flew out of the reeds, leaving their young behind.
We also filmed it.
One protester spotted a lone fledgling and entered the pond to rescue him. Making her way toward the bird, she begged the machine operator to stop, pointing to the baby bird, but he kept going.
Protester enters pond to rescue a fledging.
She was able to scoop up the bird and contacted rehabilitator Maria Colby of Wings of the Dawn for guidance.
Too young to fend for himself, the bird was brought to the rehabilitator for care until he is old enough to be released.
The lone rescued baby bird
The Fight Is Not Over
The woman who started this campaign by standing alone with a sign outside Market Basket wrote a song about what happened and put it on YouTube:
While the fight is over for the birds who lost their lives and homes, it is not over for us!
We are working to hold Market Basket accountable and ensure that such reckless disregard for wildlife and wildlife habitat does not happen again.
Promoting Plant-Based Diets for Dogs at Mutt Strutt
On May 19, 2024, NHARL had a booth at the Manchester Animal Shelter’s Mutt Strutt, where we promoted plant-based diets for dogs.
Note: The French bulldog in the slideshow was purchased at The Puppy Palace in Manchester, then surrendered to the Manchester Animal Shelter when the purchaser realized he was sick. A shelter volunteer adopted him.
Can Your Dog Be Vegan?
Until recently, little data was available about the health of dogs on vegan diets. But there are now eight such studies in leading scientific journals, and all but one found that the healthiest and least hazardous diet for dogs is a nutritionally sound vegan diet.
We sent visitors to our booth home with sample servings of V-dog Kind Kibble and Wild Earth Performance Formula Dog Food — both brands are fully vegan — so they could try the food without having to buy a whole bag.
And we gave out a variety of “meaty” plant-based dog treats from Bright Earth, which were a big hit with the dogs who stopped by our table.
Thank you to our volunteers and everyone who stopped by to learn about vegan diets for dogs!
Promoting Our Wildlife Programs
Today NHARL had an exhibit at the Saving Special Places conference in Alton, NH to promote our various wildlife protection programs, coordinated by our volunteer Wildlife Programs Promoter, Caelin Graber.
The conference attracted professionals working in conservation, land trusts, and natural resources management, so it was a perfect networking opportunity for NHARL.
The colorful artwork drew visitors to our table and was the perfect starting point for talking about our wildlife programs and the philosophy of just leaving nature alone.
We also handed out postcards (shown below) with more information about our programs and copies of our Landowner’s Guide to Protecting Your Property.
New requests for free No Hunting signs are already coming in!
NHARL will be taking this “Choose Coexistence” exhibit on the road throughout the spring and summer to farmers’ markets and other events.
How you can help fight climate change
Letter to the Editor
The Concord Monitor
March 4, 2024
Regarding the Feb. 22 My Turn in the Concord Monitor that is making the most read list, “Our first Virginia winter? How climate change has impacted NH” by Eric Orff, I would like to respond.
Mr. Orff’s My Turn is an important reminder to everyone that climate change is real and happening faster than anyone thought it would. His voice is hugely important because it is being listened to by others who may still be on the fence about climate change. Our carbon footprint is weighing heavily on the only home we have. Some footprints are heavier than others. People who eat meat and dairy have footprints that are 73% higher than people who eat no meat or dairy.
Many of us can’t afford electric vehicles or solar panels but one inexpensive thing we can all do is to eat less meat and dairy, maybe even none.
I recently took an online quiz to see what my carbon footprint is. It came back with these remarks: “Avoiding animal products makes a big difference in your carbon footprint. Cows and sheep are ruminants that let out large amounts of methane gas, and the fact that you prioritize plant-based foods makes an even bigger difference. A completely plant-based diet has about 15% less carbon footprint than even a vegetarian diet that includes eggs and dairy products.”
Thank you, Mr. Orff, for your My Turn. Let’s all start helping by eating more plant based foods, which not only helps the planet, but our own health too.
BJ WAHL
Sullivan
Cats need your help before Jan. 21!
Cats need your help before Tuesday, January 21 at 1:30 pm when the House Environment and Agriculture Committee meets in the Legislative Office Building Room 301-303 to hear House Bill 201 – Prohibiting the removal of claws from cats.
Pet Store Puppies
Bought a Sick Pet Store Puppy? What You Can Do
Many people unknowingly buy a sick puppy from a New Hampshire pet store. If this happens to you, there are things you can do to help prevent it from happening to other people — and puppies. Follow these suggestions, and contact us if you need help.
It is well documented that the majority of pet store puppies come from “puppy mills.” A puppy mill is a commercial breeding operation that disregards the well-being of dogs for profit. Animals are housed in crowded and often unsanitary conditions. To maximize profits, female dogs will be bred at every opportunity with little or no respite between litters. When they are worn out or no longer able to reproduce, breeding females are often killed.
Despite the growing trend to adopt a homeless dog rather than support an industry that profits from bringing more animals into the world, there are five pet stores in New Hampshire that still sell puppies.
These pet stores purchase dogs from commercial breeders located in faraway places such as Arkansas and Missouri. The puppies are handed over to truck drivers to be transported halfway across the country to New Hampshire, displayed like a product, and sold to anyone with a credit card.
Sun, Oct 13, 2024 – Donut Meetup
Once again, the NH Doughnut Company has been hard at work dreaming up new vegan donut flavors to temp us with!
While it may be impossible to top the “Cat-tastic” donut they baked for NHARL back in June, NH Doughnut Company is going to try.
NH Doughnut Company plans to double their vegan offerings on October 13 — just for us — so there will be six vegan options, instead of the usual three! Get your tastebuds ready for:
- Pistachio whoopie donut
- Glazed
- Chocolate frosted
- Cinnamon sugar
- Strawberry frosted
- London Fog
Important: The meetup is at the Bedford location (410 S River Rd., Bedford), and this will be the only location offering extra vegan flavors.
Drop by anytime between 8:00 am and 12:00 pm on October 13 to enjoy a special treat and some social time. We’ll be there!
Let’s show NH Doughnut Co. that vegan donuts are in demand!
Order ahead!
The Bedford NH Doughnut Co. location is open 7:00 am to 1:00 pm or until they are sold out — which often happens! The shop recommends ordering ahead online the day before (up until 8:00 pm).
Letter: World day for octopuses
Letter to the Editor
Concord Monitor
October 4, 2023
Wolrd Day for Octopuses
World Octopus Day is Sunday, October 8. It is a day to celebrate these amazing animals, and we should do that by pledging not to eat them and avoiding restaurants serving them. If you become aware of a restaurant with octopus on the menu, consider writing a brief email or letter telling them why you will not patronize their restaurant. Octopuses are considered the smartest of all the invertebrates. Because they have no bones, they can squeeze through openings as small as a coin. Octopuses have been recorded escaping captivity and are called the Houdini of the sea. They have nine brains, one in their head and one in each of their eight tentacles. They have three hearts and blue blood.
Life is becoming more difficult for all sea animals because of climate change and overfishing. Octopus populations in the wild are decreasing. So, Spain plans to open the first farm to raise octopuses for the food industry. Being solitary animals, they will suffer greatly in the crowded conditions of a farm. The slaughtering method that would be used is extremely cruel. They will be fed other sea animals, decreasing those already depleted. Aqua farms are notorious polluters. If you search online, you will find more information and a source to sign a petition to stop this octopus farm. Watch ‘My Octopus Teacher’ on Netflix for some inspiration. After viewing, you will want to protect octopuses rather than harm them.
LINDA DIONNE
Raymond
Summer Outing a Big Success
We had another perfect weather day for the New Hampshire Animal Rights League’s annual summer outing held August 12, 2023 at Four Tree Island, Portsmouth!
President James Glover spent the day behind the grill, with his volunteer sidekick Trevor, serving up plant-based burgers from our friends KindRoots in Somerville, MA.
Volunteers Felisha, Carole, and Lynette were indispensable, setting up beforehand and doling out sides of pasta salad, potato salad, and chips.
Dessert was a decadent platter of mouthwatering vegan brownies and chocolate chip cookies.
Hangin’ Out on the Island
Our annual summer outing gives people who care about animals an opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals. Guests enjoyed seeing old friends and making news ones.
Sno Kones!
Nothing says fun quite like a Sno Kone machine! Linda and Derek jumped in, serving up these frosty creations to our younger guests.
Speaking up for sea life
The theme for that day was protecting sea life and the ocean. Fish are intelligent animals who feel pain just as we do. Because no U.S. law regulates the treatment of fish, both the commercial fishing industry and fish farms treat fish in ways that would be criminal if they were dogs or cats.
Posters were on display with information about the harm caused by fishing, along with handouts for visitors to take. Many people who were not signed up for the outing stopped to learn more, and we invited them to enjoy a delicious vegan burger.
Thank you!
Thank you to everyone who came out for this event, to all our helpers, and to those who made donations. We couldn’t do this work for animals without your support.
