While fishing can be a great way to connect with nature while enjoying its bounties, it is also a leading cause of suffering and slow death for many, unrelated wildlife species and even our beloved pets.
Each year, across Abbotsford, dozens of animals are severely injured or slowly killed when they are snared by discarded fishing lines, tackle and nets. This not only poses a threat to wildlife but to pets who may eat the fishy smelling lines and discarded hooks. Even our children can accidentally and painfully find hooks that have been left behind.
Learn more by visiting Clear Your Gearfor more information about the devastating effects of discarded fishing gear.
Do your part
A few simple steps can make a big difference:
Choose areas that appear clear of “snags” to limit the chances of losing a line.
Use a biodegradable monofilament such as “Bioline”
If you must sever your line due to a snag, place a bobber on the cut end, before you cut it, so that the line can be located. Please make the City of Abbotsford aware by reporting it through our City Services App or call 604-853-5485. Parks’ staff may be able to retrieve it if it is visible.
Avoid the use of lead weights. Many animals end up eating these which causes lead poisoning and may move through the food chain, concentrating in apex predators such as Osprey.
Discard of used line in garbage receptacles or, preferably, recycle it with plastics.
Pack out what you pack in.
Goose Control Program
The geese population has been steadily growing with few natural controls and is having a negative impact on the natural environment, recreational opportunities for residents. The unnaturally high populations of Canada geese in the region can have a negative impact on the natural environment as Canada geese push out other waterfowl species such as ducks.
In the last 50 years, populations have gone from being considered migratory to residential nesting birds. It is important to stress that the nesting birds targeted in this program are not native to the region. These are hybrid offspring of several different subspecies of Canada Geese that were introduced in the 1960’s and 70’s. Canada geese from elsewhere in Canada and the US were translocated here as part of managed introduction programs.
These Geese are very adaptable to urban settings and do well in habitats intended for human use such as parks, beaches, sports fields and golf courses. The short grass at these sites is a great source for foraging and provides quick access to water for escape if necessary.
Egg addling is a supported humane technique that involves shaking eggs or coating them with a non-toxic biodegradable food-grade corn oil within 14 days of incubation to make them non-viable. Eggs are then returned to the nest. Adult geese are not harmed and continue with their regular life cycle.
Adult geese are very powerful animals which can become aggressive towards humans, domestic pets and even other waterfowl if there is a perceived threat. This aggression increases during nesting season and when populations begin to grow too large for a given area.
Fecal contamination from geese is a concern at public parks and beaches due to increased levels of fecal coliform, E. coli, and Salmonella and Campylobacter.
Increasing concerns for public health, the local economy and the natural environment have prompted the development of a management program to control the issue. The public is asked to keep away from goose nests and to avoid touching the eggs.
The key to the success of the program is finding new nests. The public is asked to report lone geese, pairs of geese or nest locations on private or public land at enquiry@ebbconsulting.ca or at 604-943-3209.
