Family-Outdoors

By Jillian Farkas, DNR Wildlife Division Through generous support from DTE Energy, the DNR is celebrating the 40th anniversary of Michigan’s Endangered Species Act from now through September.   Each week, an important species will be featured. With binoculars in tow, I scouted the seemingly calm water in front of me. Slowly, and without a ripple, a sea monster-like head began to emerge from the water. With a duckweed disguise, the snake remained still, repeatedly flicking its tongue in my direction. To confirm identification of the species, I lunged towards the snake with long tongs, but it was just out of reach. Reacting to the threat of capture, the snake swiftly swam into the surrounding vegetation and escaped. The copperbelly water snake is an exceptionally rare species in Michigan. These snakes are found in two distinct population segments in the United States - the north and south. The northern population remains federally listed as threatened, and its range includes sou...

(Photo credit: Wikipedia) COLUMBUS, OH – Ohio hunters should experience good opportunities for success as they take to the field in search of waterfowl throughout the hunting seasons, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). Waterfowl seasons stretch from October through January, allowing sportsmen and women to pursue many popular waterfowl species.  This positive outlook is based on findings by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) biologists and detailed in the USFWS Status Report and Adaptive Harvest Management Report. The reports provide information from continental surveys and are available on the ODNR Division of Wildlife Waterfowl Hunting Resources  page at wildohio.com . Canada geese are the most harvested waterfowl in Ohio. The 78-day Canada goose season beginning in October allows hunters to harvest three geese daily. Ohio’s spring breeding population estimate was 147,500 geese, near the record high for the 20-plus years the survey has ...

COLUMBUS, OH –  Crisp fall air and brilliant fall foliage signal the start of Ohio’s world-class hunting seasons and family traditions that can be carried on for generations. Ohio’s young hunters have many opportunities to learn and improve their outdoors skills during several special youth hunting seasons, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). “Ohio offers great hunting opportunities for sportsmen and women of all ages,” said ODNR Director James Zehringer. “Our youth hunts provide parents a chance to share with their children the excitement of their first hunt.” Waterfowl : Hunters age 15 and younger may hunt waterfowl statewide on Oct. 5-6, and they must be accompanied by a non-hunting adult 18 years or older (no more than two youths per adult). More details regarding waterfowl zones, bag limits and licensing requirements can be found in the 2013-2014 Ohio Waterfowl Hunting Seasons publication and on the  2013-2014 Waterfowl Hunting Seasons p...

Ohio is home to one of nation’s rarest freshwater mussels One of the rarest freshwater mussels in North America, the purple cat's was widespread in the southern Ohio River and its larger tributaries before these rivers were dammed. The species was listed as endangered in 1990 when it was Female purple cat's paw mussel. Photo by Angela Boyer/USFWS. thought to be functionally extinct, meaning that some live adults existed in the wild, but these individuals did not appear to be producing any young. In 1994, biologists discovered a breeding population in Killbuck Creek, Ohio, which renewed hope for the species' existence. However, water quality in Killbuck Creek has since degraded to such an extent that drastic measures are necessary to ensure the purple cat's paw mussel's survival. Funded by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Preventing Extinction grants, surveys and efforts to collect purple cat's paw for captive propagation began.  After the 2006 survey,...

Barn owls are making a comeback in Ohio, and more people every year have the pleasure of witnessing these beautiful birds, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). The ODNR Division of Wildlife is seeking reports from people who have seen barn owls. Reporting sightings of barn owls helps ODNR Division of Wildlife biologists estimate how many live in Ohio. This information benefits conservation efforts by tracking where and how the owls live. If people believe a barn owl is living near them, they are encouraged to call the ODNR Division of Wildlife at 800-WILDLIFE (945-3543) or email wildinfo@dnr.state.oh.us. This species is easily identified by its white, heart-shaped face, large black eyes and golden-brown and gray back. Adult barn owls communicate with shrieks and hissing-like calls, and the calls of young barn owls begging their parents for food are often heard on late summer nights. Finding pellets is another indication that barn owls may be living near...

Are you fishing for something to do? Come join the ODNR Division of Wildlife staff on Thursday, July 11, 2013 to learn more about one of the greatest perks of fishing: how to prepare a delicious fish dinner from your fresh catch! The workshop will cover details starting from stringer to dinner plate. Participants will get instruction on filleting and cooking techniques and an opportunity to do some hands-on filleting. The workshop will be from 6:30pm to 8:30pm at Wildlife District Three, 912 Portage Lakes Drive, Akron. Pre-registration is required as seating is limited. Call Ken Fry at (330) 245-3030. To learn more about wildlife-related recreation in Ohio visit  www.wildohio.com Related articles Beginning Fly-Fishing & Fly-Tying Workshop in Ohio (family-outdoors.blogspot.com) Adjustments Proposed to Ohio Deer Hunting Opportunities for 2013-2014 Season (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)

Lake Erie Islands Weekly Fishing Tip: How to catch your own nightcrawlers Are you interested in catching and keeping your own nightcrawlers? It’s fairly easy to do so, just follow these simple steps. 1.  Know where to look. Scout areas (such as parks, playgrounds, open grassy areas) after a good rain. Look for nightcrawler castings (the little piles of dirt they leave behind) and then plan your next visit following the next good rain.  2.  Know when to collect. Nightcrawlers are best caught an hour or so after dark.  3.  Bring the right equipment. Nightcrawlers are sensitive to vibrations so wear light-weight shoes. They’re also sensitive to bright light so consider rigging your flashlight with a red cover over the lens.  4.  Store them properly. Upon catching, just lay them on top of the storage bedding, don’t mix them in. This will allow you to remove sick or dead nightcrawlers more easily.  Great Lakes Temperature Map Click o...

XENIA, OH -- Anglers interested in learning the art of fly tying and fishing are invited to attend a free workshop sponsored the Division of Wildlife according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). In addition to fly-tying and fishing instruction by Division of Wildlife staff attendees will be able to test their new tackle and fishing skills by spending a few hours fly-fishing on site.  Instructors will offer the workshop at the Wildlife District Five Headquarters from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, June 1, 2013.  All fishing equipment and tying supplies will be provided.  Lunch is on your own from noon to 12:30 pm; participants can bring a lunch or purchase it at a variety of local restaurants. Be prepared to go outside regardless of weather conditions. Participants should bring sunscreen, sunglasses, hats, water etc.  To apply, applicants must be 16 years of age or older and  pre-register  by calling Brant Fulks, Wildlife Communic...

(Photo credit: Wikipedia) New fishing regulations are now in place at American Electric Power (AEP) ponds and reservoirs, including AEP ReCreation Lands, Conesville Coal Lands and Avondale Wildlife Area for the 2013-2014 license year, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). Daily bag limits are enforced at all AEP ponds and reservoirs. The regulations apply to black bass and sunfishes in more than 350 ponds and lakes among more than 80,000 acres of AEP lands available for public fishing, hunting, hiking and camping in Ohio. New regulations are intended to help sustain the high-quality largemouth bass and bluegill fishing known in these waters. The new black bass regulation is a 14-20-inch slot length limit developed by the ODNR Division of Wildlife that increases anglers’ chances of catching trophy bass. Anglers may keep two fish under 14 inches and one fish 20 inches or larger, for three fish per day (largemouth, smallmouth, or spotted bass, singly or in comb...

Drawing to be held March 16 FINDLAY, OH- A special drawing will be held on Saturday, March 16, 2013 at the Lake La Su An Wildlife Area headquarters for youths interested in turkey hunting according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Division of Wildlife. Youths age 17 and younger may participate. Lake La Su An Wildlife Area headquarters is located at 09-455 County Road R, Pioneer, Ohio. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. and will continue until the drawing at 10:00 a.m. Youth hunters must possess a valid hunting license to register. Youth hunters are not required to be present to register. Adults may register a youth by presenting the youth’s hunting license.    Successful applicants will select an available section of their choice for either a two or three day permit between the dates of April 20 through May 19, 2013. A total of 72 date/ section combinations are available.   For more information, contact the Lake La Su An Wildlife Area headq...

. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Just like the return of the red-winged blackbird, another true sign of spring’s arrival is the annual reopening of the Ohio Division of Wildlife’s Class “A” shooting ranges.  Public shooting ranges operated by the ODNR Division of Wildlife in District One will open for the year on February 27th.  Two different counties in central Ohio (Delaware and Fayette counties) offer rifle, pistol, shotgun, and archery ranges. Ranges are classified by the type of facilities offered and whether they are supervised.   A Class “A” range requires a shooting range permit for all persons 18 years and older. Shooters age 17 and under are not required to purchase a permit, but must be accompanied by and directly monitored by an adult (age 18 years or older) holding a valid shooting range permit. Range permits are available at all hunting and fishing license outlets and online at  www.WildOhio.com .  Permits are not sold at the ranges and...

(Photo credit: Wikipedia) AKRON, OH – Phil Hillman from the ODNR Division of Wildlife will cover Ohio’s steelhead  program and discuss basic steelhead fishing techniques in a Wednesday, March 6th seminar  from 7 p.m. -9 p.m. The location of the seminar is Wildlife District Three headquarters, 912  Portage Lakes Drive, Akron.  While the seminar is free, pre-registration is required as spaces are limited. Please call Ken  Fry, Division of Wildlife, at (330) 245-3030 to pre-register or if you have questions. 

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia) The first changes in Indiana’s waterfowl hunting zones in more than 25 years will be in effect for the start of the regular waterfowl seasons this fall. There still will be three zones, but they will be renamed as North, Central and South. The South Zone will represent a significant geographic expansion and replace the previous Ohio River Zone. Changes to the zone boundaries are designed to improve hunting opportunities by better relating duck migration, and therefore season timing, to the geography of the state, said DNR waterfowl biologist Adam Phelps. The North Zone boundary is essentially unchanged, with the exception of moving Roush Fish & Wildlife Area into the North. The North Zone boundary segregates the natural lakes and wetlands part of the state into its own zone. The North Zone boundary follows a line extending east from the Illinois border along State Road 18 to U.S. 31; north along U.S. 31 to U.S. 24; east along...

Maumee State Park Boardwalk (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Anglers age 15 and younger are encouraged to enjoy stocked fishing areas COLUMBUS, OH – Beginning June 30, five state-owned ponds across Ohio will be stocked with fish and designated as family-friendly fishing areas for youth only. Young anglers are encouraged to bring their family and enjoy these fishing areas throughout the summer. “This is an excellent way to encourage kids to spend time outdoors and fish in a stocked pond,” said Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Director James Zehringer. “We hope many families take advantage of this opportunity to create fishing memories.” The designated youth-only fishing areas will be at Sycamore State Park , west of Dayton; Delaware State Park , north of Delaware; Maumee Bay State Park , east of Toledo; Caesar Creek State Park , southwest of Xenia; and the Wildlife District Three youth fishing ponds in Akron. Special youth events will be held on June 30 and ...