FOSTER CITY, Calif. (Aug. 8, 2023) — In Defense of Animals’ National Goose Protection Coalition is celebrating the City Council of Foster City’s decision to spare the lives of up to 100 Canada geese. A goose poop clean-up event arranged ahead of the decision turned into a celebration.

On Saturday, August 5, 14 eager goose advocates showed up to pick up after their feathered friends at Leo J Ryan Park at the invitation of Stacy Jimenez, Councilmember, City of Foster City. Mayor Jon Froonin and goose advocates put their differences aside for community care and to beautify the area. Ironically, Foster City Parks and Recreation powerwashed the entire park the previous day, so there was no poop to clean. Regardless, the community event demonstrated that activists are willing to volunteer in support of non-lethal methods to help humans and geese coexist in city parks. 

Councilmember Stacy Jimenez was surprised to see such a great turnout and Mayor Jon Froomin was happy to see the volunteer effort. Councilmember Jimenez shook hands with National Goose Protection Coalition Member Erik Allen in agreement to hold regular goose poop cleanups. The next event will be September 9, park location to be announced. For details, check Let The Geese Live Facebook group later this month.  

“Thousands of In Defense of Animals supporters called on Foster City for compassion, so we are delighted and relieved at the council’s decision to use only humane methods to steward geese in the city,” said Lisa Levinson, Campaigns Director at In Defense of Animals. “The National Goose Protection Coalition is delighted to present Foster City with a Happy Honk award for its decision to coexist with our wild animal neighbors. Nonlethal goose management benefits everyone since it is cheaper and more effective than killing. We hope other local bodies will be inspired to foster coexistence with geese.”

The City Council of Foster City has received a Happy Honk award from the National Goose Protection Coalition. An official presentation will be made soon. 

“Foster City is setting a great example and teaching children that killing is never the answer,” said Erik Allen, a Bay Area resident and National Goose Protection Coalition member. “Dozens of people regularly spoke up at city council meetings for the geese and helped spare their lives. Thanks to Councilmember Sullivan and Mr. David Canepa from the Board of Supervisors for being massively influential voices for the geese, and to Shireef Elmakawi Esq. and Greenfire Law, P.C. for making sure the CEQA statute was upheld. And thanks are also due to Councilmember Jimenez for her leadership in finding a solution to the ‘poop problem’ that saves money and brings the community together. This poop cleanup event was a day to celebrate, reunite, and have fun while beautifying the city together.”

WHEREAS, staff is recommending that the Plan include only non-lethal strategies to population and habitat management to allow adequate time to assess their combined effectiveness; and

WHEREAS, the First Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Wildlife Innovations, Inc. would, among other changes, modify the scope of work identified in Task 1b of Exhibit A of the Agreement to include the additional services, modify the Consultant Fee Schedule to reflect that services relating to Task 1b will be on a time and materials basis, and specifically that the plan include only non-lethal strategies to population and habitat management; and

WHEREAS, the expanded scope of work for Task 1b will be performed on a time and materials basis, ensuring compensation will be rendered only for the services provided. 

Schweigart, Derek and Fanara, Frank. (2023) Staff Report: A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Foster City Authorizing the Mayor to Execute a First Amendment to Professional Services Agreement with Wildlife Innovations Inc. (Agenda Item 9.1). Retrieved from https://www.fostercity.org/agendasandminutes

Members of the public are encouraged to attend future goose poop clean-up events and enjoy being around geese families. For details on the September 9 cleanup, visit Let The Geese Live Facebook group in late August.

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In Defense of Animals’ National Goose Protection Coalition was formed in 2019 to help concerned citizens stop goose cruelty in their communities. The coalition issues Happy Honk awards to decision-makers who choose long-term, effective, nonlethal stewardship practices, and Gander Slander citations to those who don’t. Find nonlethal goose stewardship strategies at: www.stopgooseabuse.org

The Council of Foster City received opposition emails from over 15,000 In Defense of Animals supporters, urging them to cancel the cruel and ineffective goose massacre. 

Geese are generally killed in summer when they molt and cannot fly away. It’s also when they have their babies, making them especially vulnerable to heartless and violent trap and kill plans. Foster City would have killed geese by breaking their necks.

Foster City’s July 18, 2022 Canada Goose Population Management Plan Update revealed the city planned to spend $86,240 to kill up to 100 geese, which amounts to $860 per goose.

Goose massacres are repeated annually because they are a temporary solution. When geese are trapped and killed, new geese repopulate the same area since they are attracted to plentiful resources of food, water, and shelter. Non-lethal strategies such as landscape modifications and changes in human behavior provide a permanent, effective, long-term solution that doesn’t involve animal cruelty.

Animal Protection League of New Jersey, an esteemed member of the National Goose Protection Coalition offered to pay for a panel of experts in landscape restoration and modern technology to develop an effective non-lethal program to allow human coexistence with wildlife in Foster City.

Images and video of protests and the cleanup, all free for use with credit:

Aug. 8, 2023 goose poop cleanup: https://bit.ly/FosterPoopClean

June 16, 2022 protest video: https://youtu.be/puA3YmDJdY

May 22, 2022 protest images and video: https://bit.ly/FosterCityMay22GooseDem

Images of goose roundups: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmWfmPKu

Contacts:

In Defense of Animals, Lisa Levinson, lisa@idausa.org, 215-620-2130
Erik Allen, hopefullysomedaysoon@gmail.com, 707-695-4799

In Defense of Animals is an international animal protection organization based in Marin county, California with over 250,000 supporters and a 40-year history of fighting for animals, people, and the environment through education and campaigns, as well as hands-on rescue facilities in India, South Korea, California and rural Mississippi. www.idausa.org/geese

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