Public, activists decry trapping of otter in Mill Creek's wildlife sanctuary

CANFIELD

Some of the same community members who have protested recent staff dismissals at Mill Creek MetroParks now are raising concerns about wildlife protection after an incident at the park system’s wildlife sanctuary.

Jeff Harvey, president of the Audubon Society of Mahoning Valley and a surveyor of the sanctuary’s bird life, made a discovery over the weekend that was shocking to him: a river otter ensnared in a trap.

“It was terrible. I went into panic mode. The poor creature was thrashing around up on the dike,” he said, recalling how he grabbed his camera to photograph the animal before realizing that it was trapped.

Harvey immediately contacted MetroParks police. Together, he and park police – who he said appeared just as upset as he was – contacted the Ohio Division of Wildlife.

State wildlife law enforcement, MetroParks police and other responders were able to safely release the river otter, which reportedly then swam away.

The incident has led to misdemeanor charges for the owner of the traps, Dan Volpe, who the MetroParks allows to operate as part of its wildlife and habitat management efforts.

“Nuisance trapping permits are issued on an annual basis by the MetroParks as part of recommended wildlife and habitat management activities in an effort to maintain ecological bio-diversity within our natural areas," reads a prepared statement issued by the MetroParks.

Save the Wildlife in Mill Creek Park, a wildlife advocacy group that formed in the wake of the MetroParks’ June 2014 killing of 238 geese, decried the otter trapping.

A social media post by the group (which was shared nearly 500 times as of press time) in part reads: “The park had been warned that there were otters in that area and that special care needed to be taken, as the river otters are trying to make a population comeback. But the park, once again, has no regard for wildlife, and allowed someone to set up traps.”

In a letter emailed to three park commissioners, Harvey wrote: “This activity was sanctioned by the park to control muskrats and beaver. I have told park staff that River otters have been seen at the sanctuary... . Please, please bring some sanity to the park.”

Read more about the situation in Wednesday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.