A Canada goose is pictured recovering from an arrow wound at the Interior Wildlife Rehabilitation Society in Summerland on Dec. 15.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Interior Wildlife Rehabilitation Society

A Canada goose was taken into the care at a rehabilitation centre in Summerland last week after being found with an unmarked arrow through it on a lakeshore in Lake Country, and it isn’t the first case in recent years.

Eva Hartmann is the founder at the Interior Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre in Summerland.

“It’s a sad reality we see first hand again and again as wildlife rehabilitators in the Okanagan,” she said in an email to iNFONews.ca.

The bird had been left injured and unable to fly, and was discovered on Dec. 14 when concerned local citizens and a rehabilitation centre volunteer brought it into the centre.

No organs were punctured and no infection had set in. The bird was anesthetized by a volunteer veterinarian, the arrow was removed and the bird was returned to the location it was found on Dec. 23.

“We feel it’s important to spread the message that it is legal in B.C. to shoot wild geese with unmarked bow and arrow, a law that is needing to be updated to actually make it possible to find offenders that injure wildlife for their entertainment (target practice), or to track down unlawful hunting practices,” Hartmann said.  “That includes hunting geese out of season, and not making sure they are dead and collected after shooting. It’s a sad truth that makes law enforcement of the BC Wildlife Act tricky.”

According to the federal government, licensed hunters can legally hunt Canada Geese using bows, crossbows and shotguns twice during the year.

This year open season for Canada geese in the Okanagan was between Sept. 20 to Nov. 28, and Dec. 20 to Jan. 5. The injured bird in Lake Country was discovered on Dec. 14 and it isn’t clear if it was the result of a hunting accident or human cruelty.

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In April, 2023, a Canada goose was found with a hunting arrow embedded in its body near the Creekside Village senior’s complex in Vernon and taken into the care at the Hartmann’s sanctuary. It was later put down at an animal hospital due to extensive injuries.

“The arrow that was used is a hunting arrow for a deer or moose, it’s super sharp and does a lot of damage,” Hartmann said in a previous interview with iNFOnews.ca. “Even if they got the arrowhead out, the damage created would have caused the bird to suffer. Some person went out with a huge hunting arrow and deliberately shot a goose then left it to suffer and die.”

Later that year, a Canada goose in the Shuswap survived being stuck with a hunting arrow after it was taken into care at the BC Wildlife Park, and was eventually returned to its mate.

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Canada geese are protected and conserved under the Migratory Birds Convention Act, which prohibits people from harming them.

The federal government has policies and regulations to protect migratory birds and manages hunting of migratory game birds.

The feds work with other organizations to conserve the birds and their habitats, and provides permits for specified activities.

Depending on the offence, enforcement actions for those caught breaking laws under the act may include fines, suspension of hunting privileges, forfeiture of equipment or imprisonment. 

You can report poaching by calling the RAPP (Report All Poachers and Polluters) at 1-877-952-7277 or online here.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Shannon Ainslie or call 250-819-6089 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

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