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City to implement wildlife feeding ban

Feb 11, 2020 | 5:37 AM

Vernon is looking to clamp down on the Canada Goose population especially at places like Kin Beach and Polson Park.

City council has agreed to spend $15,000 to increase the duration and scope of the egg addling program which has been underway in the valley for a number of years.

“We got more geese in 2018 and 2019 than we had previously,” said Vernon Mayor Victor Cumming. “There’s an addling program — that’s where you shake the eggs — and for whatever reason, we ended up with more geese. We just haven’t been able to find the nests, or they’re in more complicated spots, but our population of geese — unlike most of our sister cities in the Okanagan — ours is increasing.”

Cumming says one reason is people regularly feeding the geese and ducks.

“That makes more of a problem, so we’re going to put bylaws in place and implement an education program and indicate to people don’t feed wildlife, and that includes waterfowl,” Cumming told Vernon Matters.

The city will prohibit wildlife feeding within city limits and initiate a public education strategy.

“There is so much uproar on social media about what Kin Beach looks like — and other beaches and some parks. How do we go about keeping the wildlife out of those areas? And one of the issues — as we all know — is people feeding them and that causes an issue. We’ll revisit it to find what works, and what doesn’t work,” said Councillor Akbal Mund to Vernon Matters.

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