600,000 pounds of goose poop

by Wayne Moore - CastanetApr 12, 2012 / 3:19 pm
The Okanagan-wide egg addling program has prevented approximately 6,600 goose eggs from hatching over the past five years. Taking into account natural mortality rates or nest failure, program officials say this is equivalent to about 5,000 fewer geese in the valley and all their potential young. According to lovecanadageese.com a goose will drop about .343 ounces of poop per day. In a year, 5,000 geese could potentially leave behind over 600,000 pounds of waste; on land and in the water. This is one of the reasons for the 'Okanagan Valley Goose Management Program'. It is in its fifth year. Project co-cordinator, Kate Hagmeier says contractors hope to complete this year's egg addling by the end of May. "Last year, field crews located and addled 1,308 eggs from 274 nests between Vernon and Osoyoos," says Hagmeier. "The multi-year project aims to reduce the population of resident Canada Geese to a more manageable level and reduce large concentrations of geese in heavily used public areas." Hagmeier says aerial surveys conducted in 2011 also indicate the growth in the goose population had leveled off. (more)
She says the key to the program's success is finding new nests. The public is asked to report lone geese, pairs of geese or nest locations on private or public land by emailing coordinator@okanagangooseplan.com.