In Defense of Animals is unhappy with city council’s decision to consider lethal measures to control Canada geese population
Erik Allen, center, with “Direct Action Everywhere,” along with protesters chant outside of the home of Foster City Vice Mayor Jon Froomin in regards to the city’s plan to kill geese in Foster City, Calif., on Monday, July 25, 2022. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
By JOAN MORRIS | jmorris@bayareanewsgroup.com | Bay Area News Group
July 26, 2022
Animal rights activists took their complaints about Foster City’s plans for managing a growing population of Canada geese to the city council Monday night, serving the city’s leaders with a “gander slander” citation.
For more than three years, Foster City has been trying to deal with a gaggle of Canada geese that just won’t leave a city park and lagoon. Each year, their numbers have grown, rising from 181 in 2020 to 323 the following year. All indications are that the number will increase this year.
FOSTER CITY, CALIFORNIA – JULY 25: A goose stands near the water next to Marin Park in Foster City, Calif., on Monday, July 25, 2022. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Last week, the council decided to consider lethal measures while continuing to use other non-lethal methods and exploring other options. The council, however, made it clear that while it doesn’t relish killing the birds, the situation at the park has become unhealthy for bird and human alike.
Among the concerns: Lagoon water quality and other sanitation issues continue to grow in the city’s parks and open spaces. A statement on the city’s web site says testing shows elevated bacteria levels in the lagoon which are directly affecting the local waterfowl population.
Avian diseases also spread more quickly among over-crowded flocks, and the detection earlier this month in Sacramento of an extremely contagious avian flu in two Canada geese and an American white pelican, may make flock control more critical. This form of the flu seems to target waterfowl.
In Defense of Animals, a national group of animal rights supporters, has been vocal in its opposition to the use of lethal methods, and has accused the city of ignoring non-lethal controls.
“Foster City’s decision to break the necks of up to 100 geese is despicable, and it won’t work,” Lisa Levinson, campaigns director for the group, said in a statement. “New geese will be attracted to plentiful resources in the area, and the killing cycle will start all over again. Nonlethal goose stewardship practices are available now, but the Council of Foster City chose to kill innocent animals instead. That’s why our National Goose Protection Coalition charged the agency with Gander Slander. Compassion must be a guiding principle for decisions related to the wellbeing of geese, who are our wild animal neighbors.”
Last week, the council decided to consider lethal measures while continuing to use other non-lethal methods and exploring other options. The council, however, made it clear that while it doesn’t relish killing the birds, the situation at the park has become unhealthy for bird and human alike.
Among the concerns: Lagoon water quality and other sanitation issues continue to grow in the city’s parks and open spaces. A statement on the city’s web site says testing shows elevated bacteria levels in the lagoon which are directly affecting the local waterfowl population.
Avian diseases also spread more quickly among over-crowded flocks, and the detection earlier this month in Sacramento of an extremely contagious avian flu in two Canada geese and an American white pelican, may make flock control more critical. This form of the flu seems to target waterfowl.
In Defense of Animals, a national group of animal rights supporters, has been vocal in its opposition to the use of lethal methods, and has accused the city of ignoring non-lethal controls.
“Foster City’s decision to break the necks of up to 100 geese is despicable, and it won’t work,” Lisa Levinson, campaigns director for the group, said in a statement. “New geese will be attracted to plentiful resources in the area, and the killing cycle will start all over again. Nonlethal goose stewardship practices are available now, but the Council of Foster City chose to kill innocent animals instead. That’s why our National Goose Protection Coalition charged the agency with Gander Slander. Compassion must be a guiding principle for decisions related to the wellbeing of geese, who are our wild animal neighbors.”
The city council’s decision last week directed city staff to start pursuing depredation permits from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, but officials said lethal options would be exercised selectively and in conjunction with a wide variety of nonlethal alternatives.
The city has been using non-lethal measures with a modicum off success, including using dogs to haze the geese and addling eggs to lower the hatch rate.
The plan now, city officials said, is to explore a variety of solutions and landscape modifications in an attempt to persuade the geese to move along.
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