Geese kill will be handled differently next time, park board says

YOUNGSTOWN — The Mill Creek MetroParks Board of Commissioners promised to seek public input and try to avoid rounding up and euthanizing geese in the future.

The pledge made at today's board meeting follows public outcry over the panel's decision to euthanize 238 geese in June without allowing for any public debate on the matter. It stopped short, however, of promising not to use lethal measures again.

“We cannot look back. But I do recognize the sensitivity of the goose roundup. Therefore, moving forward, though I’m not sure if a goose roundup will be needed in the future, what I can promise as executive director is that I recognize the need for citizen involvement ... before something like this happens again,” said Dennis Miller, executive director of Mill Creek MetroParks.

“Mill Creek MetroParks will continue our nonlethal goose-management practices, and I hope to avoid anything like this in the future,” he added.

The park administration has faced backlash from the public after the roundup and

euthanization of 238 geese and goslings from the Lily Pond, Lake Glacier and the Newport Wetlands on June 26.

For the complete story, read Tuesday's Vindicator and Vindy.com