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Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)

The Canada Goose is a medium sized goose that is characterized by its black head and neck and white cheek strap.  The body is charcoal brown, with a white belly.  They have black legs, feet and bills.  These birds are most often heard before they are seen as they have a loud “Honk” or Honk-alonk” call.  They live in flocks and when migrating, make large “V-shaped” formations in the sky.

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Canada Geese are long lived (may be greater than 20 years in the wild) and form long-term pair bonds (i.e., mate for life).  They are faithful to their breeding and wintering grounds and will return to these sites year after year, provided there are enough resources (e.g. food availability).

History of Canada Geese in the Okanagan Valley

Up until the 1940’s, Canada Geese were considered migrants or summer visitants to the Okanagan Valley.  In the 1960’s and 1970’s, resident populations became well established.  This was largely due to the natural adaptability of geese and efforts made to increase the population in order to provide sport-harvest opportunities.  What was not anitcipated was the rapid change in the landscape from natural  to agricultural and urban habitats and the closure of many areas to hunting.

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Problems with Resident Canada Geese

Canada Geese are very adaptable to urban settings and thrive in habitats intended for human use such as beaches, parks, and playing fields.  Recent concerns for public health, the local economy and the natural environment have prompted the development of an Action Plan to control problems associated with the increasing goose population in the Okanagan Valley.

Action Plan

The Action Plan is based on  five main strategies:

  1. Public Awareness and Involvement
    • Public infomation including a website, toll-free access, and distributing information regarding the management of the Canada Goose population
  2. Reduced Goose Use In Conflict Areas
    • Use tactics such as scaring and habitat modifcation to deter geese from using sensitive public areas
  3. Population Control
    • Egg-addling Program–using the addling protocol endorsed by the US Humane Society for reducing the number of geese that enter the population each year
  4. Monitoring
    • Goose numbers in key conflict areas, particularly in the summer
    • Juvenile recruitment (i.e. the number of young)
    • Annual summer population numbers
  5. Program Administration
    • Raise the profile of the Okanagan Valley Goose Management Program through signage, media, and other public information outlets
    • Expand stakeholder participation
    • Anually evaluate and refine the program