Latest news with #OhioDepartmentofNaturalResources
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
State uses Portage County park to promote Ohio tourism
Nelson-Kennedy Ledges State Park is featured in a commercial promoting tourism in Ohio. The video features a family throwing a dart at a map, deciding to go on vacation wherever the dart lands. When it lands on Ohio, the family visits Headlands Beach State Park in Mentor, Put-In-Bay, Mill Creek Park in Youngstown, Brass Eye in Columbus, Aullwood Audubon in Dayton, the Christmas Story house in Cleveland and the End of Appalachia Preserve in West Union, in addition to Nelson Ledges. While the park is located in Nelson, it is depicted in the video as Garrettsville, which is its mailing address. Nelson Trustee Anna Mae VanDerHoeven said the state of Ohio is making a big effort to promote tourism in its state park. Trustees, she said, were among the first to visit a glass walkway that opened over Memorial Day weekend after two years of construction. The 137-foot walkway goes over Sylvan Creek Gorge in the park, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources states on its website. Those walking over the bridge can see the water 50 feet below. The walkway ends in a platform overlooking Minnehaha Falls. ODNR recently told WEWS Channel 5 in Cleveland that the bridge was one of the most unusual structures ever constructed in a state park. VanDerHoeven recalls having some sticker shock over the $1.68 million cost when she visited. "You could feed a lot of people or serve a lot of veterans with that money," she said. She said the overlook is "just gorgeous." Since the bridge was dedicated, a school bus of students from James A. Garfield Local Schools visited the trail, and one man told her he visited from Wisconsin. The privately owned Nelson Ledges Quarry Park has put up a sign to let visitors know that it's not the state park, VanDerHoeven said. The state, she said, also featured the park in a state magazine to promote tourism. "It has attracted so many people," she said. But those people, VanDerHoeven added, must travel to Garrettsville or Middlefield in Geauga County to grab a bite to eat or visit any businesses. "It brings people to the township, but we don't get anything out of it," she said. "We just get the traffic." Reporter Diane Smith can be reached at dsmith@ This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: State uses Nelson-Kennedy Ledges State Park to promote Ohio tourism
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Governor DeWine shares update from Ohio workers in Texas
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WJW) — Ohio Governor Mike DeWine shared an update Saturday about the work the Ohio State Highway Patrol and Ohio Department of Natural Resources are doing in Texas following the devastating and deadly flash flooding over the Fourth of July weekend. Tick-related emergency room visits have doubled: Cleveland Clinic DeWine announced July 7 he'd directed the Ohio State Highway Patrol to send a team of 20 troopers from the agency's Mobile Field Force and several of ODNR's K-9 teams, along with their handlers, to assist with search and recovery missions in hard-hit areas of Texas. The teams updated the governor as they were preparing to begin their fourth day of recovery work along the Guadalupe river. 'Crews from the Ohio State Highway Patrol and Ohio Department of Natural Resources are embedded with the Texas Department of Public Safety in three separate units, combing through the devastation left behind by last week's catastrophic flash floods,' DeWine wrote. 'Our teams – including several ODNR K-9s trained for search, rescue, and recovery missions – have been working long hours in hot temperatures, and I couldn't be more proud of those who volunteered for this mission.' According to DeWine, troopers told him the destruction is unlike anything they've seen, especially in the area of Camp Mystic where nearly 30 campers and counselors were swept away by fast-moving flood waters. Former dispatcher faces charges for 'cruel' call made to citizen 'I thank our Ohio teams for their selfless dedication to the citizens of Texas, and Fran and I continue to pray for everyone impacted by this tragedy,' DeWine's statement said. More than 100 people across central Texas are confirmed dead, and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said Friday more than 160 people are believed to be still missing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
SW Ohio has had 6 black bear sightings in 10 days. Here's why there has been an uptick
At least one black bear was spotted roaming around a Greater Cincinnati home on Aspenhill Drive in Springfield Township early July 7. A Fox 19 viewer shared videos of the bear walking outside their home around 4:15 a.m. A Greenhills police officer also reported seeing a black bear on the Commons that same morning. However, it's possible they saw the same bear. The two locations are about an hour apart on foot, according to Google Maps. The bear was last seen in the woods off Interstate 275 near Forest Park, the Greenhills Police Department told The Enquirer. Hamilton County dispatch said someone also reported a bear sighting around 6:45 a.m. July 5 on westbound Interstate 275 in Sharonville near Mosteller Road, but officers didn't find anything when they arrived. Black bear sightings aren't uncommon in Ohio, but it's rare to find the animals so close to the city. Here's what we know. There have been approximately six black bear sightings across southwest Ohio within the past 10 days, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources told The Enquirer. Here is where the bear sightings were reported: Saturday, June 28: Yellow Springs. Sunday, June 29: East of Xenia, north of State Route 3. Monday, June 30: East of Xenia, south of U.S. Route 35. Wednesday, July 2: Oregonia. Saturday, July 5: West Chester. Sunday, July 6-Tuesday, July 8: Forest Park/Greenhills. Cincinnati residents will rarely find a black bear rummaging through their trash. Kathy Garza-Behr, wildlife communication specialist for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, confirmed to The Enquirer that there has been an increase in black bears sightings in southwest Ohio of late, but this happens seasonally in the northeastern and southeastern parts of the state. She said this is the season when young males start looking to set up their own territory. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources has tracked black bear sightings in the state since 1993. Most bears spotted are young males, wandering long distances in search of a mate and territory. Reports are growing, according to the department, with most observed in northeast and southeast Ohio. In 2022, the most recent year data is available in the monitoring report, Ohio had both the highest sightings and confirmations of black bears on record. Here are the numbers dating back to 2019: 2019: 176 sightings, 77 confirmed. 2020: 154 sightings, 76 confirmed. 2021: 159 sightings, 61 confirmed. 2022: 285 sightings, 161 confirmed. Black bear attacks are rare. They are usually fearful of people. As long as they are given space and not cornered, bears do not seek to attack or kill children or pets. The bears are generally not aggressive and prefer to flee if they are aware of your presence. If you see a black bear, remain calm. If it hasn't noticed you, back away slowly and leave the area. If it is aware of you, avoid direct eye contact and give it an easy escape route. Don't run away or climb a tree, which may provoke a chase. State wildlife officials recommend using the acronym AWARE: Act calm and do not run. Warn the bear that you are near. Talk in a firm, calm voice. Allow space between you and the bear. Step aside and back slowly away. Do not make the bear feel trapped or threatened. Raise your hands above your head to appear larger if the bear approaches. Clap your hands or shout to scare the bear away. Exit the area. Black bears can cause significant damage while searching for an easy meal. Here's how you can protect your backyard if one is in your area, per ODNR: Remove bird feeders, including hummingbird and suet feeders. Store your garbage either in a garage or a secure container. Keep pet foods inside, especially at night. Clean out grease traps from grills after each use; store grill in garage or shed. Place electric fencing around beehives. Pick fruit from berry bushes as soon as possible; scare bears out of agricultural fields as soon as damage occurs. Did you see a bear? The state's Division of Wildlife wants to know. Report sightings online at or the Wildlife Species Sighting Report. You can also contact your local county wildlife officer or regional District Wildlife Office. Enquirer media partner FOX19 and Ohio Connect Team reporter Chad Murphy contributed this report. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Southwest Ohio has had 6 black bear sightings in 10 days. Here's why
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Black bears reported in Greater Cincinnati
At least one black bear was spotted early July 7 in Greater Cincinnati. A FOX19 viewer shared videos of the bear walking outside their home on Aspenhill Drive in Springfield Township around 4:15 a.m. A Greenhills police officer also spotted a black bear on the Commons the same morning. The bear was last seen behind Our Lady of the Rosary Church at 17 Farragut Road. It's possible they saw the same bear. The two locations are about an hour apart by foot, according to Google Maps. Hamilton County dispatch said someone also reported a bear around 6:45 a.m. July 5 on westbound Interstate 275 in Sharonville near Mosteller Road, but officers didn't find anything when they arrived. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources has tracked black bear sightings in the state since 1993. Most bears spotted are young males, wandering long distances in search of a mate and territory. Reports are growing, according to ODNR, with most observed in northeast and southeast Ohio. In 2022, the most recent year data is available in the monitoring report, Ohio had both the highest sightings and confirmations of black bears on record. Here are the numbers dating back to 2019: 2019: 176 sightings, 77 confirmed. 2020: 154 sightings, 76 confirmed. 2021: 159 sightings, 61 confirmed. 2022: 285 sightings, 161 confirmed. Black bear attacks are rare. They are usually fearful of people. As long as they are given space and not cornered, bears do not seek to attack or kill children or pets. The bears are generally not aggressive and prefer to flee if they are aware of your presence. If you see a black bear, remain calm. If it hasn't noticed you, back away slowly and leave the area. If it is aware of you, avoid direct eye contact and give it an easy escape route. Don't run away or climb a tree, which may provoke a chase. State wildlife officials recommend remembering this using the acronym AWARE: Act calm and do not run. Warn the bear that you are near. Talk in a firm, calm voice. Allow space between you and the bear. Step aside and back slowly away. Do not make the bear feel trapped or threatened. Raise your hands above your head to appear larger if the bear approaches. Clap your hands or shout to scare the bear away. Exit the area. Did you see a bear? The state Division of Wildlife wants to know. Report sightings online at or the Wildlife Species Sighting Report. You can also contact your local county wildlife officer or regional District Wildlife Office. Enquirer media partner FOX19 contributed this report. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Black bears reported in Springfield Township, Greenhills and on I-275
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Yahoo
Local black bear being tracked by ODNR
[WATCH: In the video player above, a large bear takes a stroll near a local school.] (WJW) — The Ohio Department of Natural Resources is using GPS to track a black bear recently spotted in Ashtabula County. According to ODNR, the female black bear was captured on private land with the landowner's permission. The bear was then collared with a GPS and released unharmed at the same location. Child's body recovered, search ongoing for man in Cuyahoga River after inflatable inner tube capsizes Wildlife experts will use data collected from the GPS collar to learn more about the endangered animal and its behavior in the Buckeye State. 'GPS collars remotely transmit location data, helping researchers to learn about the habitat use and preferences of individual bears. Researchers using the location information can also learn about a bear's home range size and space requirements, survival rates and their reproductive status, including litter size and frequency of reproduction,' explained ODNR in a post on Facebook. The collared bear weighed 198 pounds and is believed to be five to 10 years old. Officials with ODNR said the collar is programmed to fall off the bear before its battery dies, which is typically after about 18 months. Cleveland police investigating two stabbings and a double shooting: I-Team ODNR asks the public to report animal sightings to help biologists track a number of different species, including black bears, bobcats, river otters, ruffed grouse, turkeys and more. CLICK HERE to see pictures provided by ODNR of the bear being captured and collared. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
