Snow geese wreak havoc on Metro Vancouver farms

Metro Vancouver farmers say they arelosing thousands of dollars each year because of the annual snow geese migration in October and November.

Young snow geese cause problems for farmersby feeding on grass and eating crops, resulting indamaged fields.

"It'sinsane," said third generationfarmer John VanKeulen.

"Thatcropthatweloseoutonwould maybe be an $80,000cropfor us....They love lush green grass. They just slowly peck away at it."

"Because of the rainy wet weather and mild temperatures that we do have, the birds seem to love it," said Van Keulen.

Last year, experts estimated the Metro Vancouver snow goose population may have increased by upto50 per cent over a one-year period, up to 100,000 birds.

"They cansometimesgraze it so badly there's nothing left of the crop," said Drew Bondarof the Delta Farmland and Wildlife Trust.

Drones to deter birds?

Bondarsaid in some cases, farmers have to reseed an entire field because the damage is so severe.

"There's quite a large cost associated with that. Over the winter season they can graze a field so badly it has to bereseededin thespring."

VanKeulenhas tried different methods to save his fields, including planting different types of grass.

Next month, Van Keulenis hiring a private company to test its technology that uses robotic birds and drones to deter the birds.

"It's a quiet problem that a lot of us farmers have been trying to battle."