Goose cull program in Oliver given a go for another year

Photo: Contributed

The annual goose cull in Oliver has been approved for another year.

Since 2010, the town has issued six permits per year to hunters in an effort to reduce the local goose population to mitigate water quality issues and beach advisories.

At Tuesday's meeting, council voted to renew the program for the 2021-22 season.

Police will be made aware who holds the permits once they are awarded. Hunters record the location and number of kills.

In 2018-29, 36 geese were killed within town boundaries, a number that shrank to 30 the following season and just eight in 2020-21.

In contrast, in 2018-19 zero were shot at Tucelnuit Lake, four the following year and 20 in 2020-21. Tucelnuit Lake is one of the areas of concern the program aims to address as it continues.

The program also focuses on the Oliver Airport area.

"It has been several years since we have received any complaints from the public that lends credence to the continuation of the program. Complaints of the goose population have lessened over the years supporting the continuation of the program," reads a staff report.

Council supported the program's continuation unanimously.