Proposed goose cull in CRD attributable to exploding inhabitants, environmental impacts

Ask farmers on Vancouver Island and lots of will let you know, geese are their greatest drawback.

“It’s simply devastating,” mentioned Terry Michell, proprietor of Michell’s Farm in Central Saanich, B.C.

A gaggle of geese are pictured in a farmer’s area in Central Saanich, B.C. Jan. 10, 2023. (CTV Information)

An instance of the issue might be seen at a farmer’s area close to Michell’s Farm on Tuesday, the place a gaggle of geese have been consuming every little thing in sight.

“Some crops, we’ve misplaced 100 per cent of some fields, and a few we’ve misplaced 30 per cent,” mentioned Michell.

The Canada goose inhabitants within the area is estimated to be 10,000 to fifteen,000 birds, some 3,500 to 7,000 of them overwintering within the space. It’s a inhabitants that doubles each 4 years.

The Capital Regional District (CRD) is now proposing a “Canada Goose Administration Technique.”

“That may contain culling of animals in addition to egg addling,” mentioned Colin Plant, Capital Regional District board chair.

Addling means killing the embryo inside a fertile goose egg.

The administration technique will go forward offered 10 per cent of eligible voters within the CRD, or roughly 35,000 folks, don’t voice opposition to the plan by the cutoff date of Jan. 23.

IMPACTS ON ECOSYSTEMS

The CRD, in addition to some wildlife advocates, say the geese are inflicting issues for native birds.

“It is a human-created drawback and, very reluctantly, I assist the steps to scale back this drawback,” mentioned Ann Nightingale, board member at Rocky Level Chook Observatory in Victoria.

Nightingale, who’s a fowl advocate, says earlier than the Nineteen Seventies, on common, 125 geese have been counted through the annual Christmas Chook Rely. These birds additionally would have been migratory.

“So the inhabitants has actually taken off,” mentioned Nightingale. “These birds are very damaging in native habitats, in estuaries the place native birds want these habitats.”

Tim Clermont, government director of the Guardians Of Our Salish Sea Estuaries, says the geese may impression different forms of wildlife.

“We’re seeing a 90 per cent lack of Carex lyngbyei sedge, which is a vital marsh plant that helps productiveness of estuaries,” mentioned Clermont,

A goose is pictured in a Vancouver Island estuary consuming Carex lyngbyei sedge, a plant that’s important for juvenile salmon and marsh well being. (CTV Information)That plant is crucial habitat for juvenile salmon and with out it marshes can’t perform, he says.

“When you don’t have intact marshes you lose your shorelines, you lose your habitat for salmon,” mentioned Clermont.

The meat harvested from the Goose Administration Technique will likely be turned over to the CRD’s First Nation companions for consumption.

The CRD says it’s unclear what the anticipated discount within the goose inhabitants will likely be, when and if the plan goes into impact.