If you are in area State Parks and see/hear an ODNR/parks officer appear to discharge his or her weapon into/toward a flock of waterfowl, do not be alarmed.

ODNR/Army Corps of Engineers is currently performing bird management activities in area state parks, such as Mosquito Lake State Park, due to overpopulation of waterfowl. The population of birds at the lake is becoming problematic, and this is being done to reduce bacterial contamination of the beaches and water that results from the deposits of excrement from these flocks of birds.

To do this, they are using special noisemakers called “bird-bangs”, which work similar to a gun-fired flare. They are not discharging their service weapon.

If you have questions regarding this activity, you can contact the Park Management at (330) 637-2856.

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