An animal rights group issued a “Gander Slander Citation” to Foster City officials Monday over their plans to potentially kill up to 100 Canada geese.

Last week, the City Council authorized a plan to reduce the waterfowl’s population, which the city says is causing potential health hazards, deteriorating lagoon water quality and other problems.

The plan allows for both lethal and nonlethal methods to thin the geese population.

“Water quality testing has shown elevated bacteria levels present in the lagoon links directly to the local waterfowl population,” city officials said in a statement after the council approved the plan.

The decision was made over objections raised by some local residents and In Defense of Animals’ National Goose Protection Coalition, which is the group issuing the “citation.”

A “citation” created by In Defense of Animals accuses Foster City of “gander slander” for its plan to possibly exterminate Canada geese that have been fouling the city’s lagoon. (Image courtesy of In Defense of Animals via Bay City News)

In a news release, In Defense of Animals urged people to attend Monday afternoon’s delivery of the citation at City Hall in Foster City, calling the event a “peaceful demonstration against the merciless plan to kill geese and goslings because of their droppings, and to take action to stop this massacre.”

Opponents of the city’s plan dispute the necessity of killing the animals and are calling for non-lethal means to disperse the geese.

“Foster City’s decision to break the necks of up to 100 geese is despicable — and it won’t work,” said Lisa Levinson, campaigns director at In Defense of Animals.

“New geese will be attracted to plentiful resources in the area, and the killing cycle will start all over again,” Levinson said in the news release. “Nonlethal goose stewardship practices are available now, but the Council of Foster City chose to kill innocent animals instead.”

City officials said there is currently no timeline for killing the geese and the City Council will take up the issue again before any action is taken.

“While the city understands the concerns regarding the decision to move forward with depredation, it has been determined that exercising the lethal option selectively and in conjunction with nonlethal alternatives is a necessary step to address the poor water quality issues and quality of life concerns that have faced Foster City for years,” city officials said.