Over the last 13 years, more than 17,000 goose eggs have been addled throughout the Okanagan Valley thanks to the Okanagan Valley Goose Management Program.

That number is set to rise as the program has begun for its 14th year all the way from Vernon to Osoyoos.

The program targets the geese population that isn’t native to the region.

Photo Credit: Canada Goose Control

“These are hybrid offspring of several different subspecies of Canada Geese that were introduced in the 1960s and ‘70s,” explained Kate Hagmeier, program coordinator. 

“Canada Geese from elsewhere in Canada and the US were moved here as part of managed introduction programs.”

Egg addling involves shaking eggs or coating them with non-toxic biodegradable food-grade corn oil within 14 days of incubation, making them non-viable.

Once addled, eggs are returned to the nest so the geese continue to incubate until they realize the eggs won’t hatch, which typically happens when it's too late in the year to produce more eggs.

It doesn’t harm the adult geese and allows them to continue with their regular life cycle.

Photo Credit: Canada Goose Control

It’s supported by the US Humane Society and must adhere to strict federal guidelines in Canada that only allows certain people to do it, not just any member of the public.

Over the OVGMP’s first 13 years, an estimated 10,000-13,000 geese have been prevented from entering the population, not to mention thousands of offspring.

The Okanagan Valley’s geese population currently sits at around 2,500 birds.