Canada geese at Kin Beach (Vernon Matters photo)

By Liam Verster

new plan?

Vernon still exploring goose management options

Jan 24, 2024 | 5:00 AM

The City of Vernon is still seeking ways to control the local goose population.

At the city council meeting Monday, Jan. 22, a goose management motion from the in-camera portion of the Committee of the Whole meeting held that same day was declassified.

The motion directed city staff to arrange to have representatives of GooSE provide a virtual presentation to city council at a future meeting.

It noted the cost of the presentation should not exceed $1,000, which would be funded by the operation budget.

The city has been exploring goose management options for Kin Beach and Paddlewheel Park since July of 2023 when contractors could not be found to conduct a “kill to scare” program.

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City staff then looked into landscaping options to deter geese from flocking to the two locations, until a contractor reportedly contacted the city with a proposal to do a “goose harvest,” though few details on that plan or the contractor were made public.

Vernon Mayor Victor Cumming would not say what the newly proposed goose management plan would involve, but did tell Vernon Matters it was an issue that should be addressed.

“We’re trying to learn everything we can about what can we do to manage geese,” Cumming said.

“The resident geese population, it’s growth has created a problem for us. It has for many other communities and many other communities have now found some really good solutions for it, so we want to hear about what they are.”