LYNN – An influx of Canada geese roaming wild has prompted city officials to take action and curb the population with a messy, yet popular method called egg addling.While most geese migrate south for the long winter, the birds in Lynn have instead opted to stay close to home where residents continue to illegally feed them bread and other treats that are wildly considered to be no-no’s.Ward 1 City Councilor Wayne Lozzi said last year 69 goose eggs were successfully addled in the city for the first time, and a target goal of the same amount or more is projected for this year.Lozzi said he, Animal Control Officer Kevin Farnsworth and Lynn Water and Sewer Superintendent Richard Dawe formed a committee of city officials that includes Health Department director Mary Ann O’Connor and Lynn Woods Forest Ranger Dan Small to target the overpopulation of geese.Last year, Lozzi said the city hired a person to addle eggs at Flax Pond, but this year he said he would be doing the brunt of the dirty work with Farnsworth and Small.”The main problem is that people continue to feed the geese even though the city passed an ordinance prohibiting it about five years ago,” he said. “Because they are fed, they make the area their home and don’t fly south for the winter which perpetuates the problem.”In an effort to curb the dilemma, the process of egg addling was introduced, which targets the overpopulation of geese.The method includes taking the egg, placing it in corn oil, and then putting it back in the nest.By doing so, Lozzi said the oil interferes with the oxygen exchange and ceases the egg’s ability to grow.”It basically destroys the eggs but the mother doesn’t know until the period of nesting passes by,” he said. “Otherwise, if the mother knew the egg wouldn’t hatch or if a predator destroyed an egg, she would release one of the other eggs in her reserve. But she isn’t smart enough to know that we addled them.”Sanctioned by the MSPCA, the egg addling method has also been given the green light by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.A permit is required by the Fish and Wildlife Agency to allow for Canada geese eggs to be addled.”We have to make sure we don’t addle any swan or duck eggs in the process,” he said. “The preferable outcome is to have less Canada geese running around the city.”The method that garnered media attention and protestors alike was the city of Braintree’s 2005 decision to lift a hunting ban to allow for the shooting of Canada geese.Lozzi said Braintree selectmen were given a lot of grief for their decision and it’s not something he would pursue in Lynn.”It just wouldn’t float here, so I’m not going to stick my neck out there for it, no pun intended,” Lozzi said.This year’s addling process will begin before the end of the month and will be expanded to other areas of the city to yield a higher result.The areas of most concern include Magnolia Park, Flax Pond in the Ward 1 area, as well as portions of East Lynn near the General Electric building.The cost to addle eggs runs around $500 for supplies, which include oil and buckets.A small portion of a DCR grant to improve water quality and reduce various types of vegetation at Flax and Sluice Pond would be given to the egg addling project, according to Community Development Facilities Director John Kasian.Lozzi urged those who would either like to volunteer or who have noticed geese pairing off to mate to contact Small at 781-477-7123.”The geese are overpopulating and over burdening the ecosystem, and that is the real problem,” he said.