Grand Lake might miss waterfowl season

CELINA — Those who are accustomed to hunting waterfowl along Grand Lake St. Marys may not get to this year.

A routine drawing to see who will get a permit for a waterfowl blind site is moving ahead next weekend as planned. State officials cautioned, however, that the permits won’t actually be issued at that time.

“They are going to have the drawing to award who would have access to set up blinds for this coming season,” said Dave Scott, wildlife management administrator with the Ohio Division of Wildlife. “They are not going to actually issue the permits to build the blinds, which would enable people to waterfowl hunt there, until the water is declared clean. So, pending some future declaration that it’s safe, those who participate in the drawing would have an opportunity to hunt there.”

The waterfowl season, which begins in October, will proceed normally elsewhere in the state, Scott said.

Ongoing blooms of cyanobacteria, commonly known as blue-green algae, have been nearly ever-present in the lake. Toxins produced by the algae triggered concerns for human health and prompted the no contact advisories.

Scott said it’s difficult to track what contaminants waterfowl may have been exposed to since they are migratory birds. State wildlife officials aren’t necessarily concerned about algae toxins in the tissue of the fowl, but are concerned about hunter safety if their dogs or the hunters themselves come in contact with algae-covered birds.

“Normally, under all circumstances, we tell people it’s best not to be in contact with wild animals. You don’t have a permit generally to collect them, to have them in your possession, you should leave them alone,” Scott said. “I know folks have been advised to avoid contact with the water or animals that have been in the water. People who may have collected animals who have been exposed to that water, we encourage them to return live animals to the location where they found them.”