Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Our mission is to ensure a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all.
We're celebrating some wonderful news! It's now illegal to sell, grow, or plant Callery pear (aka Bradford pear) in Ohio because of its invasive qualities and likelihood to cause economic or environmental harm. Learn more about Callery pear here:
#odnr
It's here - Ohio's earliest wildflower, skunk cabbage! You can find these stinky wildflowers in swampy, wet areas. They've been spotted at Cedar Bog & Christmas Rocks state nature preserves. Skunk cabbage can produce heat as it blooms, allowing it to emerge through snow & ice! 😮
Lake Erie has 9,910 square miles of surface water & has more consumable fish than all other Great Lakes combined! Also, 12 million people rely on Lake Erie for drinking water! Thanks to the
@H2Ohio
initiative, we're on our way to a cleaner, healthier lake for everyone!
#H2Ohio
This is incredible! A pair of sandhill cranes performed their courtship dance last week and our Irwin Prairie State Nature Preserve manager was lucky enough to capture it on video 😮 These birds are endangered in Ohio & are a real treat to see in the wild 📸: Maureen Bogdanski
Today,
#ArborDay
, we celebrate all of the great things about trees here in Ohio! So lets spotlight our state tree, the Ohio Buckeye. Did you know the holding of a "buckeye nut" in one's pocket is considered good luck?
#InThisTogetherOhio
#Trees
#Buckeye
This Thanksgiving, we are thankful for all of the beautiful places in Ohio's great outdoors that provided a safe escape for Ohioans throughout the year.
From all of us at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, we wish you a safe and happy Thanksgiving.
#inthistogetherOhio
Our
@OHStateParks
had a cool visitor last week - a bobcat! These cats are elusive & nocturnal so it's rare to see one in the wild. Our naturalist at Lake Hope State Park captured footage of one wandering around the park. Fun Fact: Bobcats purr! Who knew 🤷 Video: Kaylin Callander
Indian Lake State Park is closed until further notice. ODNR staff & emergency crews will assess the storm damage & reevaluate the status of the park later today. If you have any questions, contact DNRmail
@dnr
.ohio.gov. Our thoughts are with the people of the Indian Lake region.
Happy Birthday Ohio! 🎂🎈 Celebrate Statehood Day by Learning About State Symbols Found in Nature - ODNR experts featured in educational videos about Ohio’s state symbols 🌼
@OhioHistory
@OhioDivWildlife
#statehoodday
#Ohio
Don’t be left in the dark! 🕶️ Ohio will be experiencing a full solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. Camping reservations are open at ⛺
Learn more about the eclipse here:
Angela Havely from Little Hocking, Ohio, sent in this pic of two bobcats on her porch.
You can see how wild cats have different coat markings just like domestic cats.
@OhioDivWildlife
#WildlifeWednesday
Oooh, it's ghost pipe at Boch Hollow State Nature Preserve! This incredible flower doesn't photosynthesize which is why it doesn't turn green. You'll find them growing in the darkest forests. We love the translucent color!
#odnr
#odnap
#naturalareas
#preserves
#ohiodnr
If you want to walk into your own magical wonderland, you must see Conkles Hollow State Nature Preserve ✨ ✨ Towering Black Hand sandstone cliffs, a deep gorge full of waterfalls and stunning overlooks make Conkles Hollow a whimsical place to visit 📸: Marcia Lynn
#conkleshollow
Did you know that Ohio was once down to just 4 nesting pairs of Bald Eagles?
Through the efforts of wildlife biologists and a concerned public, the bald eagle population is coming back and is no longer on the federal endangered species list.
#ohiofindithere
@OhioDivWildlife
It's Wildlife Wednesday with
@OhioDivWildlife
! You may see the American mink around ponds & lakes. This sleek furbearer is weasel-like in appearance & possesses a long, narrow body with a bushier tail. It has small, rounded ears, beady eyes, short legs & sharp claws.
When you regularly spend 30-40 minutes out in nature, you will see an increase in your energy level & feel inspired. Get some inspiration from the beauty & sounds of the Clear Fork Mohican River close to Mohican State Park &
#thriveoutside
. 🌳☀️🛶🌼
@OhioMHAS
#ohiostateparks
It's National Wildlife Week 🦎 🦉🦦 🦌 Ohio has incredible wildlife & we're thrilled to share our favorites! Pictured are the spotted salamander, screech owl, river otter & white-tailed deer. Check out our
@OhioDivWildlife
Field Guides for Ohio wildlife:
A new Ohio Wildflower Bloom report has dropped! 🌼 🌺 Wildflowers have exploded in the last week. There are dozens of species in bloom throughout the state. View full report here:
📸: large-flowered bellwort, marsh marigold, shooting star, wild Columbine
Wetlands absorb excess nutrients from rainfall and runoff before they pollute Lake Erie. . Wetlands are one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in the world. We have 483,000 acres in our state, but Ohio has lost about 90% of its wetlands.
@H2Ohio
has restored 14,521 acres so far!
The geology of Ohio is fascinating! Do you know that the glacial grooves on Kelleys Island in Lake Erie are among the largest and best-preserved glacial grooves in the world? For more info about the Ice Age in Ohio, head to - .
#OhioROCKS
@ShoresIslandsOH
Thanks to
@GovMikeDeWine
, Ohio's outdoor experiences have vastly improved! From state parks to forests & natural areas to H2Ohio wetlands, the governor supports ODNR's efforts to expand & improve. ODNR Director Mertz & Governor DeWine will keep the trend going for four more years
Have you spotted any Monarch butterflies making their way from Mexico to Ohio yet? 🦋 They're currently looking for milkweed on which to lay their eggs 🥚 Help out the butterflies & plant some in your garden. Ask for it on your next trip to the garden center!
#odnr
#butterflies
FALL FOLIAGE FORECAST-
@OhioDNR
expected to release their official fall color forecast this week. Here is when we normally see fall colors peak in
#OhioWX
. We HAVE been a little cooler so these dates may be bumped a little earlier this year.
This endangered lake sturgeon was caught during a smallmouth bass survey off of Huron. These fish have been absent from Ohio for many years, but seem to be increasing in the Great Lakes and Ohio River drainage thanks to reintroduction programs.
@OhioDivWildlife
📸: Zack Slagle
Did you know Marblehead Lighthouse is the oldest continuously operating lighthouse on the Great Lakes? Join Naturalists for a virtual tour tomorrow at 9 am of this historic structure. This is also an official
@girlscouts
Love State Parks Weekend event.
Did you know that Ohio has cacti? 🌵 The Kitty Todd Nature Preserve in the Oak Openings region has a unique water table that allows this pokey plant to grow there.
@H2Ohio
funds will restore wetland habitat & establish a connection between the ditches, wetlands and floodplains.
With spring comes the emergence of wildflowers and wildlife and more activity. Turtles are on the move and you can often see them crossing roadways 🛣️ If you need to help a turtle across the road, be safe and take them to the side of the road they were facing 🐢
#odnr
#wildlife
#ICYMI
On Tuesday, some of our officers along w/
@ohiodnr
officers & other Hamilton County agencies gathered on the roof of UCMC’s Goodman Garage to show unity for ODNR Wildlife Officer Kevin Behr. Behr was shot in Clinton County in December & has been at UCMC since the incident.
Why are wetlands so important? 🤷 They trap pollutants like phosphorus and heavy metals that would otherwise end up in Lake Erie. Wetlands with healthy native plants soak up carbon. In fact, these plants can absorb 50 TIMES MORE carbon than a rainforest in similar size! 💦 WOW!
Did you know the
@ohiodnr
has an interactive map of all boating access sites in the state? Whether you like to paddle or powerboat, you’ll find many new places to explore by using our Boater Access & Amenities Map.
#responsiblerecreation
#ohiofindithere
As we begin
#BlackHistoryMonth
, we wanted to spotlight Ohio's first black
@OhioDivWildlife
Officer - Milt Brent. Wildlife Investigator Brent was commissioned in 1972 and served for more than 28 years - as an officer and later on as an investigator.
#WildOhio
#history
Good Morning!
@andy_chow
here taking over our Twitter and Instagram accounts today to follow a fun event at the Willow Grove State Forest in Belmont County. Check out this 🧵for more…
Happy
#ArborDay
! Today we celebrate our love of
#trees
🌳🌳🌳 in the buckeye state. Did you know that Ohio has 24 state forests covering more than 200,000 acres? For more info on trees, download the Trees of Ohio field guide at .
#inthistogetherOhio
With nesting season beginning in February, now is a great time to spot Bald Eagles in Ohio.
Did you know that Ohio was once down to just 4 nesting pairs and we did an annual mid-winter survey, but there are so many eagles now it isn't even necessary!
Take a moment & enjoy the sounds of nature. Studies have linked spending time outside to better health like decreases in incidences of diabetes, lower blood pressure & heart rate, & better immune system function.
#thriveoutside
@OhioMHAS
#ohiostateparks
#inthistogetherOhio
Beavers love Ohio ❤️ This tree at Old Woman Creek National Estuarine Research Reserve bears the markings of beavers. These furbearers have massive front teeth that help them tear through trees and cambium, the tissue growing under the tree bark.
#odnr
#wildlife
#beavers
DYK: Lake Erie provides drinking water to 12 million people 😮 Urban & agricultural runoff have significant effects on water quality.
@H2Ohio
wetlands will help filter out extra nutrients that can cause algal blooms before reaching Lake Erie.
This week's species of the week is the Spotted Salamander. Although inconspicuous most of the year, during the breeding season, you may notice salamanders that appear in great numbers seemingly out of nowhere. For more info, check out .
@OhioDivWildlife
Join us tomorrow - May 6 at 4 pm - for an interactive webinar on butterflies. Learn how a butterflies grows and what native plants host butterflies. For info, head to this Facebook event link - .
@OhioStateParks
@OhioDivWildlife
@OHEducation
#butterflies
Parent: "If you don't quit your bickering, I'LL TURN THIS NEST UPSIDE DOWN!" 🦅
Thanks to the immense work of
@OhioDivWildlife
, eagle populations soared in Ohio over the years. In 2022, there were an estimated 824 eagle nests within the state! More info:
In case you missed getting out to a state park or forest in late October this year, here is a great drone video of Mohican gorge
#fallinohio
#ohiofindithere
In Ohio, Eastern chipmunks enter periods of torpor (inactivity) starting in November and generally remain in their burrows until late February. During this time their body temperature can fall from the normal 95 degrees to as low as 59 degrees for a few hours up to 1-2 days.
We love warbler migration! 💛 The striking colors, the sounds - it's all incredible! This blackburnian warbler gave an inquisitive look at
@OhioDivWildlife
Metzger Marsh State Wildlife Area. What warblers are you seeing? 📸: Joshua Wiley
#odnr
#metzgermarsh
#birding
#warblers
What a stunning scene at the Maumee River! Several white-tailed deer frolicked in the river just east of Mary Jane Thurston State Park 🦌 🦌 🦌 Photo: Marc Manuszak
#odnr
#ohiostateparks
#wildlife
#nature
This right here, this is why we're morning people! Brian Prose captured stunning footage of the sunrise over Shawnee State Forest 😍 😍 Set your alarm clocks to see these incredible sunrises throughout our great state!
#odnr
#odnrforestry
#forests
#sunrise
It is National Save the Eagle Day!
Our
@OhioDivWildlife
takes saving the eagle very seriously. Thanks to their work, the Bald Eagle population in Ohio has gone from 4 nesting pairs in 1979 to more than 300 this year!
Eagles are very active this month so
#getoutside
find some!
.
@OhioStateParks
are free and open for your next outdoor adventure. Remember to practice COVID-19 safety by avoiding large groups and giving yourself and others at least 6 feet of distance.
#InThisTogetherOhio
#ohiostateparks
Did you know that an acre of wetland can store 1–1.5 million gallons of floodwater? That's cleaner water for everyone! We’re celebrating
#WorldWaterDay
with a look at all the good being done by Gov. DeWine’s
@H2Ohio
Initiative.
@OhioEPA
@OhioDeptofAg
Fish need oxygen to survive 🐟 The harmful algal blooms at Lake Erie absorb all the dissolved oxygen in the water, causing dead zones where fish can’t survive. Wetlands remove excess nutrients in the water that fuel harmful algal blooms, allowing fish to thrive in Lake Erie.
Join us today at 10 am to learn about the American Eagle 🦅. Once endangered, this large bird of prey has made a fantastic rebound in Ohio. Don’t be surprised if a live bald eagle makes an appearance too!
@OhioDivWildlife
@OhioStateParks
#eagle