Brant geese use favourable landscape and conditions in Parksville to rest on their annual migration (Sandra Grey/Brant Wildlife Festival)

By Alex Rawnsley

off limits

Parksville beaches close to dogs for annual Brant migration season

Feb 15, 2020 | 8:25 AM

PARKSVILLE — Two area beaches will temporarily prohibit dogs for the next two months to accommodate the annual Brant geese migration.

Rathtrevor Beach closed to dogs Saturday, Feb. 15 and will remain closed until Apr. 15. Parksville Bay Beach will have similar restrictions for March and April to accomodate the geese, which are skittish of both people and dogs.

The geese are completing their long trip from Mexico to the Arctic to breed, involving several stops to rest and feed.

Nature Trust BC’s Robin Rivers said the region offers several benefits for the geese.

“They have places to stay away from predators and also places where they can get the nutrients to fill themselves up and continue this long migration,” Rivers said. “Without that kind of stop to rest and feed, they can’t survive.”

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The geese spend time feeding on eel grass and herring spawn while taking advantage of tidal shallows and pools.

Rivers said dogs can be particularly disruptive to the geese as they’re unable to distinguish between a pet and a predator.

“When they look at a dog they think it looks like an arctic fox and they have no idea a dog doesn’t want to eat them,” Rivers said. “When they take flight they use up calories they really need for their migration.”

Brant geese typically stay in the area for only a few days at a time but travel in several small groups spanning through March and April.

alex.rawnsley@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley