MASSACHUSETTS : Sea Gull Eradication Program Begins

Federal officials began poisoning the nests of thousands of sea gulls that they say are destroying an endangered bird species on an island off Cape Cod. Toxic margarine-on-white-bread sandwiches were planted in the nests of about 5,700 breeding gulls on Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge near Chatham. Activists who lost a court appeal to stop the poisonings delivered antidotes of tuna-and-charcoal-filter sandwiches to 2,400 birds. U.S. officials said the gulls are destroying the piping plover by pushing them out of their nesting areas and eating their chicks.