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Resident reports dead geese; city says Ohio DNR contacted and no tests confirmed
Summary
During public comment, a resident reported multiple dead geese in city parks and asked whether bird flu had been confirmed; city staff said Ohio DNR was contacted but, to staff's knowledge, no tests have been performed and the city will defer to ODNR for testing and notification.
A Greenville resident used the public-comment period to report social-media accounts and neighbor observations of dead geese in local parks and asked whether the city had confirmed avian influenza and how residents would be notified.
City staff replied that park staff had found dead geese in several places (staff estimated a dozen found by residents) and that the city had contacted the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. "To my knowledge, none have been tested," a staff member said, adding that ODNR did not appear overly worried during initial contact and had not issued guidance to the city. Staff said the city has no jurisdiction to test wild migratory birds and will rely on ODNR for testing and any public notices; the city will publish confirmed information on its website when available.
Staff described ongoing nonlethal measures used to manage Canada goose populations — contracting a third-party company that uses dogs to chase geese away, applying deterrents around islands, and avoiding removal without ODNR authorization. The staff member noted that feeding geese can keep them from migrating and contribute to local concentrations during cold snaps.
No laboratory confirmation of avian influenza was reported during the meeting, and council encouraged residents to contact ODNR directly if they have specific observations to report.
