Why Vernon's goose cull will cost up to $40,000

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Vernon is moving ahead with its plan to kill at least 100 Canada Geese at a cost of up to $40,000.

Coun. Scott Anderson says he’s been asked why the program costs so much.

“We know why it costs so much, but I don’t think the public does,” he said at Monday's council meeting.

A memo included in the council agenda package does break down the spending somewhat:

• $7,000 covers planning and permits
• $27,000 covers catching the birds
• $4,000 covers killing and disposing of the birds

The cull will take about three to four weeks to complete. About 10 people in kayaks will cover beaches including Paddlewheel, Lakeshore and Kin to roundup the birds.

Once killed, the federal government doesn’t allow for the donation of the meat, which means the bird carcasses will either end up in an animal compost or the landfill.

Anderson says they were allowed to offer the meat to the Okanagan Indian Band, but the OKIB turned it down. One group has requested the goose cull meat be donated to hunters as bait, and city staff have been asked to investigate that use.

City staff believe Vernon is the first city in the Okanagan to actually kill Canada Geese, rather than addling eggs or scaring them away. Municipalities on Vancouver Island have used lethal force.

The geese are considered a nuisance because of their prolific amounts of poop and their potential to destroy habitat.

Two petitions have been launched to stop the Vernon cull.

Mayor Victor Cumming was opposed.