ATHENS, OH -- The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife said it received reports of 56 black bear sightings in Ohio last year involving an estimated 26 individual bears. Thirteen of these 26 bears were observed at least twice and one bear had been sighted on six different occasions.

Bears were seen last year in 24 Ohio counties, most of which were in southeast Ohio. Two bear sightings came from northwest Ohio, two from southwest Ohio, and eight from northeast Ohio. Athens and Ashtabula counties each had six bear sightings in 1999. Five reports came from Richland County, but it is thought these involved just one bear. Compared to recent years, 1999 was an above-average year for black bear sightings, according to the Division of Wildlife.

These sightings in Ohio last year occurred between January 14 and December 20, with nearly 65 percent of the sightings having occurred in May, June, and July. Seven sightings last year included female bears with cubs. These reports came from Jefferson, Trumbull, Perry, Ashtabula and Washington counties.

The incidence of bear-human confrontations has increased in Ohio. In response, the Division of Wildlife has trained its wildlife officers and biologists in handling bear complaints and bear relocation techniques.

Among seven bears involved in conflict situations last year, only one was trapped and relocated. After it spent a day and a half in Marietta, wildlife biologists removed a juvenile male black bear from a local cemetery and relocated it to a remote area in Monroe County. Two other bear situations involved encounters with dogs and a horse in Richland and Monroe counties.

A black bear unfortunately was struck and killed by a passing motorist last June in Scioto County.

SANDUSKY, OH -- The next two weekends represent the peak of the annual spring spawning run of Lake Erie walleyes in the Maumee and Sandusky rivers, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.

Anglers have been taking some daily catch limits of ten walleyes in both rivers. Water temperatures are in the low 50s in both rivers and water levels are near normal. Wading and fishing conditions appear to be ideal heading into the second weekend of April.

The best fishing technique appears to be the use of floating jigs with a 1/4-ounce worm weight or egg sinker placed 12 to 18 inches ahead of the jig. Anglers should use a barrel swivel as a stopper for the weight and consider using a 3/8-ounce weight in heavy current.

Snagging is prohibited. Anglers may fish from sunrise to sunset through May 1 on portions of the Maumee, Sandusky, Portage and Mahoning rivers. Only fishing lines with a single hook or a lure with a single hook may be used.

Residents and nonresidents may purchase a one-day fishing license for $7. This license may be redeemed as credit toward purchase of a resident ($15) or nonresident ($24) annual fishing license. A three-day nonresident tourist license is sold for $15.

OAK HARBOR, OH -- The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife will release trumpeter swans in mid-May as part of a continuing five-year reintroduction project. The release sites include wildlife areas at Killdeer Plains, Winous Point and Toussaint in northwest Ohio. There currently are 38 trumpeter swans present in Ohio.

The all-white trumpeter swan is the largest waterfowl in North America and weighs an average of 20 to 30 pounds with a wingspan of up to seven feet. The trumpeter swan is listed as an endangered species in Ohio. The birds were first released in Ohio in May, 1996 at Magee Marsh as part of a cooperative effort with Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Ducks Unlimited, and the International Center For The Preservation Of Wild Animals (The Wilds).

Trumpeter swans are native to Ohio, but were largely found to be absent prior to European settlement as trappers and fur traders used them as a food source. These swans once ranged over the northern third of North America and further declined in numbers due to a significant loss of wetlands. This reintroduction project is funded through the wildlife diversity income tax checkoff and sales of wildlife conservation license plates.

TOLEDO, OH -- Four Toledo area men have been found guilty and sentenced in connection with last year's shooting of trumpeter swans in Ottawa and Lucas counties.

Stephen M. Pastor Jr., 31, of Toledo was sentenced in Ottawa County Municipal Court to 180 days in jail with all but five days suspended, and ordered to pay the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife $1,000 in restitution. He also was ordered to complete a hunter education course after being found guilty of shooting a trumpeter swan last October.

Christopher J. Church, 35, of Northward and Mark D. Gagman, 35, of Toledo were each found guilty in Ottawa County Municipal Court of attempting to shoot a trumpeter swan last October. They each received a suspended 180-day jail term and were given a $500 fine. They also were ordered to complete a hunter education course and to provide 50 hours of community service at a northwest Ohio park.

Jeffrey P. Schmidt, 37, of Toledo was found guilty in Oregon Municipal Court of shooting a trumpeter swan in Lucas County last October. He was given a 180-day jail term with all but five days suspended, fined $175, and ordered to pay the state a restitution of $1,000. He also was ordered to complete a hunter education course.

Each of the four defendants received a two-year suspension of their hunting privileges in Ohio.

COLUMBUS, OH -- Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife Chief Michael J. Budzik has presented a special award to a Westerville North High School science and environmental studies class.

The award was presented to Doug Wynn and his students during the Division's Wildlife Diversity Conference held March 8 in Columbus.

"The Division of Wildlife recognizes the past, present, and future students and the instructor of the Westerville North High School field studies class in sincere appreciation for their contribution to high quality research and enthusiastic efforts to enrich our knowledge of Ohio's herpetofauna," Budzik quoted from the engraved award that was presented to Wynn.

"This is a rewarding partnership for the Westerville North class as well as the Division of Wildlife. The students' efforts over the last year have been critical to the recovery of the eastern plains garter snake," said Budzik.(more)

The class has been doing research on the Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area in Wyandot County for the past five to ten years. Most recently, students have been conducting surveys of the eastern plains garter snake and eastern massasauga rattlesnake.

Wynn also has been an active researcher during recent summers on behalf of the division's wildlife diversity program. He continues to study the abundance, distribution, movement and habitat uses of timber rattlesnakes in southern Ohio.

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For Further Information Contact:
John Wisse
ODNR Division of Wildlife
(614) 265-6539