County’s common, uncommon forms of wildlife

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife, or ODNR, monitor all animal species throughout the state of Ohio to protect them, their habitats and natural resources for the benefit for all, according to its website.

There are five districts in Ohio each made up of multiple counties that are supervised by ODNR to protect species and its natural resources.

District 3 — headquarters located in Akron — focuses on Lorain County and 18 other surrounding counties in Northeast Ohio.

Jamey Emmert, spokesperson of District 3, said Lorain County and surrounding counties have sightings of many different species from mammals to birds and more.

Wildlife specialists and officials through out District 3 reach out to their communities to see what mammals they want protected or are in fear of and want gone to keep those species and humans safe, Emmert said.

Often times, Emmert said people think that humans can negatively impact an animal’s habitats because of development, which some can.

But in Lorain County, where much is home to habitats for certain species, land is heavy developed with humans and metro areas.

All species focus their habitat on what kind of food, shelter and space they need, Emmert said.

Species that are most prevalent and comfortable with more human interaction in Lorain County are white-tailed deer and coyotes.

“White-tailed deer and coyotes can handle being around people and can take advantage of opportunities presented to them,” Emmert said. “As long as they and other species have what they need to survive, their population will remain steady.”

With only certain areas being wooded for these two mammals, she said deer and coyotes have been able to deal with small spaces.

Other mammals she said were common in the area are red foxes, eastern wild turkeys and peregrine falcons.

Red foxes are most common in Northeastern Ohio suburban areas and are good for free rodent control because they feast on rats, Emmert said.

Birds like wild turkeys have a great population in the area, she said, and one that has come back to Lorain County on its own.

The peregrine falcon are cited a number of times in Lorain County, favoring skyscrapers and power plants, Emmert said.

Like the wild turkey and peregrine falcon, most of these species have good human intervention and they all adapt very well, she said.

A mammal that is normally located in districts near the southeast area of Ohio, but have had sightings come to Lorain County and other District 3 areas, are bobcats, Emmert said.

The recent protected mammals are up and coming with more activity and are no loner endangered species, she said.

Last year, there was a first modern day sighting of a bobcat in Medina, right below Lorain County’s border, Emmert said.

However, with sightings not as prevalent as the more common mammals in Lorain County, she said the bobcat was rogue and may have been disoriented.

Most bobcats come from states like Kentucky, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, Emmert said. The ones spotted in Ohio are most likely female.

With most species and mammals, it’s mostly the males that travel more to venture their territories, she said.

“It’s pretty unusual,” Emmert said.

To keep a note of trends of species that are more common in certain areas, ODNR looks at sightings, accidentally trapped animals or road kill in those areas.

Species that are common are protected by the organization, Emmert said.

Some that aren’t common can be a threat to citizens based off of human interaction between the two, she said.

The natural resources departments also looks at what species can be hunted and what will not affect its population.

Emmert said the organization focuses on all animals, especially the ones that are more common in developed areas like Lorain County.

Species that are less common in Lorain County, but have been sighted in District 3 at times are more of the bobcats, black bears, hawks, owls and more.

Emmert said these have all been protected and may have sightings more often in the District 3 area during the summer, because bears and more of these species travel during that time.

Through some of these species, Emmert said bears and bobcats don’t like to get too far west and prefer eastern areas that are wooded.

Emmert said she believes with the resources offered in Lorain County and in other areas, she does not see trends changing, but it could be possible.

“Lorain County has developed, but there are chunks of habitat like rivers and forests, so, it’s not ideal for any of the species to migrate somewhere new,” she said. “If the habitat is ideal and they have what they need, they will stay. They need that to survive and reproduce.”

Animals, especially white-tailed deer, will continue to thrive if humans can protect them to a certain degree, Emmert said.

If humans can remove certain factors, like indirect feeding and the tearing down of natural resources, there is a chance, with proper steps that humans can take to make wildlife suitable for animals, she said.

“Over 40 years ago, wildlife experts would have never thought many of the animals and species that reside where they do in Ohio, would be where they are today,” Emmert said. “Some adapt and evolve into other areas while most stay the same.

“As long as they have the food, shelter and space they need, that’s all that really matters.”

“Lorain County has developed, but there are chunks of habitat like rivers and forests, so, it’s not ideal for any of the species to migrate somewhere new. If the habitat is ideal and they have what they need, they will stay. They need that to survive and reproduce.” — Jamey Emmert, Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife spokeswoman for District 3