Bend’s goose egg oiling program sparks debate over “humane” control

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- As spring nesting season wraps up across Bend’s parks, a long-standing wildlife management practice is once again drawing attention—and raising ethical questions.

Each year, Bend Park and Recreation District staff locate Canada goose nests and coat the eggs in corn oil, preventing them from hatching. The district says the method is a humane, non-lethal way to manage growing goose populations that can damage turf, erode riverbanks, and leave behind large amounts of waste in popular parks like Drake Park and Discovery Park.

But not everyone agrees.

Recent community feedback questions whether the practice is truly humane, or simply “the lesser evil,” pointing back to the controversy of a 2010 goose culling that led to a major shift in how Bend manages its flocks today.

Now, the debate is resurfacing—balancing public health, environmental impacts, and animal welfare.

KTVZ’s Tracee Tuesday will have a closer look at the process, the history behind it, and what it means for Bend residents—coming up today at 6 p.m. on our NBC affiliate.

In the meantime, we want to hear from you. Take our POLL:
“Bend uses egg oiling to control Canada goose populations. Do you support or oppose this method?”