In an effort to control the rampant overpopulation of Canada geese, the annual egg-addling program is set to begin in the Okanagan.

Egg addling is a population management tool for non-migratory Canada geese. It involves shaking eggs or coating them with non-toxic, biodegradable food-grade corn oil within 14 days of incubation to make them unviable.

The eggs are then returned to the nest, where geese will continue to incubate until they realize the eggs will not hatch, usually too late in the year to produce more.

Geese are currently overpopulated, and they increase the risk of water contamination in local water sources.

This program (started by Okanagan Valley Goose Managament) is supported by many animal welfare organizations, and the geese are not harmed in the process.

In order for the program to succeed, finding and accessing new nests is vital. The public is encouraged to help out by reporting lone geese, pairs of geese, or nest locations on private or public land. They can email , or call 1-877-943-3209. 

Reporting is encouraged, but the public is asked to keep away and not touch the eggs.

"Various subspecies of Canada geese were brought here in the 1960s and '70s as part of managed introduction programs," said Kate Hagmeier, program coordinator. "Canada geese would not be nesting in this region naturally, so we know the addling program only affects these introduced species.鈥�

In the program's 18 years, 24,000 eggs have been addled, equating to an estimated 12,000 to 18,000 geese not entering the population, not including thousands more offspring that could have been hatched. 

More information can be found at