238 geese, goslings killed in today's euthanasia effort in Mill Creek

YOUNGSTOWN

Two-hundred thirty-eight geese and goslings were herded into a chamber and euthanized with carbon dioxide Thursday morning at Mill Creek Park’s Lake Glacier, Lily Pond and Newport Wetlands, a U.S. Department of Agriculture official said.

The final tally came from John Paul Seman, the USDA’s Poland-based assistant district supervisor, who said the carcasses will be dumped in a landfill.

The Mill Creek Park roundup was conducted by the USDA under an Ohio Department of Natural Resources permit.

“They got more today than what I originally expected,” which was about 75, said Laura Graber, the Akron-based ODNR wildlife research technician who issued the roundup and euthanasia permit.

“The month of June is the only time we permit roundups,” Graber said.

She noted that this is the time when the birds are easiest to catch because goslings aren’t sufficiently developed to fly and adult birds also can’t fly because they are molting.

Park officials were fielding numerous telephone calls Thursday, with callers expressing both pro- and anti-roundup sentiments, Villella said.

Villella said she did not know why park officials did not conduct a public hearing on wildlife management options before Thursday’s roundup.

The next meeting of the park commissioners will be at 6 p.m. July 14 at Fellows Riverside Gardens.