Central Ohio – Wildlife District One
State Wildlife Officer Austin Levering, assigned to Knox County, responded to a call from a Kenyon College student who observed a white-tailed deer with one of its legs stuck in a tree. Officer Levering arrived on scene and located a deer with its back leg wedged in the V shape of two tree limbs. Officer Levering spread out the limbs and lifted up the deer, allowing it to be released and run away freely.
Northwest Ohio – Wildlife District Two
State Wildlife Officer Levi Farley and State Wildlife Officer Austin Dickinson, assigned to Paulding and Defiance counties, respectively, witnessed the driver of a vehicle litter a red cup into a roadside ditch. Officer Dickinson conducted a traffic stop for the litter violation. Officer Farley contacted the driver and issued a summons for littering. In Defiance Municipal Court, the judge ordered the violator to pay $175 in fines and court costs.
State Wildlife Officer Brock Williamson, assigned to Seneca County, observed an angler struggling to use a fishing pole. Officer Williamson stopped to talk with the angler and learned the individual did not know how to tie a proper knot, cast a line, or select equipment to catch different species of fish. Officer Williamson took the time to teach the angler what hooks and bait worked best for different species. He demonstrated how to tie a knot, cast a line, and set up a basic bank fishing rig for catfish. Before leaving, Officer Williamson saw the angler catch their first fish. The individual thanked Officer Williamson and was excited to continue fishing.
Northeast Ohio – Wildlife District Three
While patrolling Conneaut Creek, State Wildlife Officer Jason Warren, assigned to Lake Erie, was flagged down by a resident who noted having video of a trespasser. The resident shared footage from a bird feeder camera showing a large black snout and tongue lapping up birdseed. Other cameras at the residence showed a small black bear enjoying a nighttime snack. The bear nearly destroyed the feeder, and Officer Warren advised the individual not to feed the birds until the bear moved on. Black bears are not aggressive and generally avoid people, but they are highly food-motivated and can become habituated if human-derived food sources like garbage, bird feeders, and pet food are easily accessible.
In April, State Wildlife Officers Cory Burroughs and Zach Hillman, assigned to Holmes and Summit counties, respectively, patrolled Nimisila Reservoir. The officers noticed two anglers littering plastic water bottles, cigarette cartons, plastic gloves, and other trash. Officer Burroughs and Officer Hillman contacted the two anglers at their vehicle. The officers checked a largemouth bass caught by one of the two individuals and found that it was shorter than the 12-inch minimum length requirement. Both individuals were issued a summons for littering, and a second summons was issued to the keeper of the largemouth bass for failing to release the undersized fish. The anglers agreed to walk back and retrieve the trash they had left.
Southeast Ohio – Wildlife District Four
In early March, an adult bald eagle was observed hopping along the shore at Burr Oak State Park Lake but appeared unable to fly. State Wildlife Officers Mark Basinger, assigned to Perry County, and Ben Smith, assigned to Morgan County, along with Natural Resources Officer Dave Miller, searched the area by boat and found the eagle. They safely captured the large bird with a landing net and put it in a carrier. The eagle was transported to the Ohio Wildlife Center, where it was cleared of neurological issues and evaluated for injuries. The eagle appeared to have sustained wounds from a territorial battle with another adult eagle. The eagle made a full recovery and was released at Burr Oak Lake a few weeks later.
During the 2025 white-tailed deer gun hunting season, State Wildlife Officer Ted Witham, assigned to Jackson County, received a call from concerned deer hunters who encountered an individual who did not have permission to be on the property they were hunting. The hunters provided a description of the individual and the individual’s vehicle and license plate number. Officer Witham contacted the suspect a short time later and confirmed the suspect had hunted the property without permission. Officer Witham issued a citation for the violation. The suspect pleaded guilty in Jackson Municipal Court and was ordered to pay $335 in fines and court costs.
Southwest Ohio – Wildlife District Five
State Wildlife Officer Brad Buening, assigned to Mercer County, patrolled Grand Lake St. Marys and noticed an unusual number of littered aluminum cans along the west side of the lake. Officer Buening drove around the area and collected all the litter to determine the extent of the problem. He suspected an individual was littering along the same route on a regular basis. Officer Buening contacted State Wildlife Officer Mark Schemmel, assigned to Auglaize County, to assist with the case. Within a couple of weeks, the officers caught a suspect. The individual was issued a summons for littering and was ordered to appear in Celina Municipal Court. The suspect was found guilty and sentenced to pay $100 in fines plus court costs, complete one year of community control, and serve 10 days in jail, suspended.
While on patrol, State Wildlife Officer Gus Kiebel, assigned to Adams County, encountered a 91-year-old individual who was lost and confused. The individual was unsure of their location or where they were going. Officer Kiebel contacted the individual’s spouse and helped them return home safely.
