COLUMBUS, Ohio (August 5, 2025) — The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife released its most recent field report, detailing a range of enforcement actions, rescues, and outreach efforts conducted by state wildlife officers across all five districts. Among the notable incidents was a wildlife rescue in Pickaway County, where a distressed deer was saved by a local officer.
Pickaway County: Deer Rescue by Officer Elster
During a hot summer day, State Wildlife Officer Josh Elster, assigned to Pickaway County, responded to a call from a concerned landowner who found a white-tailed deer stuck in the mud near a pond. Officer Elster arrived quickly and was able to free the exhausted animal, washing mud from its eyes and helping it to a shaded area for recovery.
The officer instructed the landowner to monitor the deer overnight. By the following morning, the landowner confirmed that the animal had moved on, indicating a successful recovery.
Central Ohio (District One): Littering Crackdown
In Champaign County, Officer Nick Oliver cited a man for throwing a glass bottle into the woods while tubing on the Mad River. The individual was found guilty of unlawfully disposing of trash on public land and fined $205.
Northwest Ohio (District Two): Illegal Hunting from Vehicle
Officer Adam Stachler, assigned to Fulton County, cited a hunter who was reported to be using a pickup truck to pursue deer during the 2024–25 gun season. The man was stopped, charged, and fined $300. The antlered deer was confiscated.
In Hardin County, Officer Ryan Kennedy helped a resident whose basement had become home to nonvenomous snakes, offering exclusion advice to keep them out.
Northeast Ohio (District Three): Warrant Arrest at Boat Ramp
In Mahoning County, Officer Thomas Frank arrested an angler at the Bonner Road boat ramp who had an outstanding warrant related to a prior fishing license violation. The man was taken to Portage County Jail and fined $227.
Meanwhile, in Ashtabula County, Officer Matthew Fisher observed a hen wild turkey and four poults on a gravel road. The healthy sighting contributes to ongoing efforts by the Division of Wildlife to monitor turkey populations, and the public is encouraged to report such sightings at wildohio.gov.
Southeast Ohio (District Four): Tri-State Law Enforcement Meeting
Officer Darin Abbott, from Lawrence County, led a tri-state wildlife enforcement meeting in Huntington, West Virginia, gathering 28 officers from Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia. The session focused on improving communication and case coordination across state lines and will be followed by a second meeting in 2026.
Southwest Ohio (District Five): Global Outreach on Fisheries Enforcement
Wildlife Officers from Clark and Preble Counties partnered with the World Affairs Council to provide training to delegates from Africa, including nations like Namibia, Algeria, and South Africa. The session focused on combating illegal fishing and showcased Ohio’s use of technology and enforcement strategies.
