Sources: ODNR, 1812Blockhouse Staff
Thanks to thousands of reports from citizen scientists during February and March, 706 bald eagle nests have been confirmed in Ohio, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.
1812Blockhouse shared a background story about this census back in January, and shared news of the first bald eagle sighting of 2020. That story can be read here.
The bald eagle is one of Ohio’s greatest wildlife success stories. The nest census was the first undertaking to discover all such sites for the first time in eight years. The results show an increase of 151% from the 2012 census, when 281 nests were recorded in Ohio. The high number of nests represents the hard work and dedication put forth for Ohio’s wildlife. More…
Featured, Nature, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife
Richland Countians have more than one way to interact with the area’s native trees and plants this spring.
Even with the current Stay-at-Home Order, Ohioans are still permitted to walk to exercise or get way in parks and recreation areas, provided that social distancing is maintained.
That includes the walking trails at the Gorman Nature Center, the B&O Bike Trail, Mohican State Park, and other locations. In those locations, the beauty of Ohio’s wildflowers and other native species will be clearly evident.
Spring is a time of renewal across Ohio’s beautiful landscapes, and this April marks the state’s first Native Plant Month, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). More…
Featured, Native Plants, Nature, Ohio Department of Natural Resources
The Mohican State Park Lodge is now closed.
In response to the developing public health situation with COVID-19 and the Ohio Department of Health’s (ODH) guidance, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) closed nine Ohio State Park Lodges after check-out on Thursday, March 19 to protect the health of both visitors and staff.
State park and lodge cabins, campgrounds* and day-use areas including golf courses are still open. The public is encouraged to continue visiting Ohio State Parks to hike, bike, golf, fish or just enjoy being outdoors. Visitors are encouraged to follow all COVID-19 social distancing guidelines while in the parks. More…
For the first time in eight years, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife is attempting to find every bald eagle nest in Ohio and is asking citizen scientists to report their sightings of our national bird.
This is certainly an effort that local residents would find worthwhile to undertake. According to the website eBird, a sighting of a bald eagle in 2020 has already been made locally — the last by Michele Skolmutch on January 28 at Pleasant Hill Lake Park. One of the best places to view bald eagles in the county is on Durbin Road, immediately south of Bellville. If you want to get “up close and personal” with one, you can visit Ted and Gus, the eagles in residence at the Ohio Bird Sanctuary near Clearfork Reservoir. More…
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Forestry is currently working on a 10-year update of Ohio’s Forest Action Plan which includes a statewide assessment of Ohio’s valuable forest resources. Stakeholder input is requested on key issues, threats, and opportunities associated with Ohio’s forest resources, including forests on public and private lands and urban and rural areas. More…
Flowers and Trees, Nature, Ohio Department of Natural Resources
The Northeast District of the Division of Ohio State Parks & Watercraft has organized a series of winter hikes to showcase the beautiful state parks in this part of Ohio. In you put them all on your calendar, these hikes will have you traveling all over Northeast Ohio – from expansive marshes to natural kettle lakes, old-growth forests, and glacier-carved valleys. Winter is a great time to view the fascinating geological features of Ohio. More…
Richland Countians are certainly fans of Ohio’s many state parks, particularly those close to home. Visitors should take note that the way you reserve rentable amenities in this parks is about to change.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) will roll out the new Ohio Reservation and Watercraft Registration System (ORRS) starting Friday, December 20. The online system will reduce reservation fees for customers, improve the user experience, and enhance the Ohio Parks rewards program. More…
Ohio’s archery hunters have taken close to 75,000 white-tailed deer thus far during the early part of the season, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. Through Tuesday, Nov. 26, archery hunters have checked 74,838 deer. Last year, archery accounted for 46% of the deer season total.
The count is higher than last year across the state and in Richland County as well.
More…
An Ohio Department of Natural Resources Naturalist undertook a tour of all 75 Ohio state parks…with the surprising goal of visiting all 75 within 10 days.
As she traveled, ‘Naturalist Richelle’ used internet and social media to blog and vlog her trip, allowing others to follow her adventures. More…
Malabar Farm State Park, Mohican State Park, Ohio Department of Natural Resources
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Forestry recently provided more than $100,000 in fire and EMS equipment to dozens of rural fire departments throughout Ohio.
“The state is proud to partner with rural fire departments to help ensure that they have the tools they need to carry out their first responder duties and protect the public,” said Governor Mike DeWine. “Equipment was provided to more than 60 departments for free.” More…
In honor of Veterans Day, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) will offer U.S. military, both active duty and veterans, a 30% discount off camping, getaway rentals, and state-operated cabin stays during November.
“It’s always a privilege to host the brave individuals who served to protect our country,” said ODNR Director Mary Mertz. “We hope veterans, along with their friends and families, will have the opportunity to make special memories at Ohio state parks.” More…
Nature, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Veterans and Military
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Forestry reminds Ohioans to take necessary precautions if they are planning to burn debris this fall, and to know the state’s outdoor burning regulations. Ohio law states outdoor debris burning is prohibited from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM from October 1 through November 30. More…
Nature, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Trees and Forests
Even if you are not planning to go on a hike or pack up a tent and camp out this fall, you can take advantage of the easiest way to welcome fall with almost no effort required: leaf peeping. Leaf peeping is, simply put, just the act of looking at leaves to observe the color change that takes place during fall. This activity is so popular that the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), in partnership with Ohio. Find It Here., maintains a Fall Color Forecast to help people find the best locations to view and enjoy the beautiful colors that accompany the onset of fall in Ohio. More…
Richland County hunters have their first opportunity to pursue white-tailed deer as archery season opened on Saturday.
According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife, the white-tailed deer is the most sought-after game animal in Ohio. Approximately 370,000 people hunted deer in the state last year. More…
